MONROE – Some early missed chances by Northwestern State and some early clutch hits from ULM led to an 11-3 loss for the Demons on Thursday night.
The Demons (5-8) had two run-scoring opportunities in the first two innings of the game but were only able to push one run across, while the Warhawks rallied for five, two-out runs during that same time.
Those early missed opportunities loomed large over the Demons. NSU got the first two batters of both the first and second innings to reach base. The only run to score in those chances came on a sacrifice fly from
Ashlyn Walker in the top of the first inning that put the Demons up 1-0.
Taylor Williams and
Laney Roos reach on base hits to start the game for the Demons, both advancing a base on a throwing error at short to put runners at second and third with no out in the first inning. Walker brought in Williams on a sacrifice fly but a groundout to third left more on the table.
A leadoff double from
Aly Delafield, the first of her career, and a walk to
Camryn Ford started the second. A hard-hit ball to third resulted in a double play with another line shot caroming off the pitcher's glove and directly to the third baseman for the final out of the inning.
When the Warhawks were presented with those same run-scoring opportunities in the first two innings, they took full advantage. ULM scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning on three hits, all with two outs in the inning.
The first two hits being a soft single up the middle and a tapper in front of the plate. A two-run double by the next batter gave ULM the three-run lead after the first. They added another run in the second with another two-out hit, a double to right center, making them 4-for-6 with two outs through the first two innings of play.
They added one more run in the third and five more in the fourth with just two balls leaving the infield in that inning, and giving them an 11-1 lead after four innings.
The Warhawks took advantage of six walks surrendered by the NSU pitching staff.
ULM retired seven straight Demon batters across the final three inning before two-out singles from
Taylor Williams and
Laney Roos in the top of the fifth, both their second hits of the game, giving Williams a 2-for-3 day and Roos a 2-for-2 day.
Tristin Court ripped a two-out double to left center to bring in a pair of late runs but the rally ended their on a fly ball to right to finish the game.
It was Court's team-leading fifth double of the season and moved her into the team lead with nine RBI.
The Demons play a pair of games on Friday in the Best of the Bayou weekend at ULM with an 11 a.m. first pitch against Evansville and a 4 p.m. start against Sam Houston.
