NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State was unable to solve the enigma that was Nicholls' pitcher Audrey McNeill in a 2-0 pitcher's duel loss in Sunday's Southland Conference opening series finale.
Demon starter
Kenzie Seely did not allow a hit or baserunner through the first three innings of the game, but saw the Colonels manufacture runs in both the fifth and sixth innings getting just four total hits on the day. Seely took the tough-luck loss in the finale as the Demon bats could not decipher McNeill for the second straight game.
After tossing a two-hit shutout in Saturday's second game, McNeill turned around and threw a three-hit shutout on Sunday as Nicholls (15-10, 3-0) finished off a sweep of the Demons to begin league play.
The Demons picked up two of their three hits off McNeill in the game in the first three innings of the game.
Laney Roos singled to left in the first and
Sophia Livers beat out an infield single to short in the third. Those two hits, and one hit-by-pitch from
Cameron Curtis in the second, represented the only base runners for either team through the first three innings of the game.
Seely was perfect the first time through the order retiring the first nine Nicholls' batters she faced to start the game. A single to left from leadoff batter Claire Sisco served and the Colonels first hit and baserunner to start the fourth inning.
The senior got the next three batters in a row on 10 pitches to strand the runner, but an even quicker six pitch bottom of the inning from McNeill sent the game to the fifth still scoreless.
The Demons and Seely were not able to escape a leadoff single in the fifth after the hit, a walk and sacrifice bunt put two in scoring position with one out. The Colonels took the lead on a solidly hit ball to second that brought in the run from third. Seely got the next batter looking on strikes to end the frame but NSU trailed 1-0.
A third straight leadoff single led to Nicholls' only other run of the game that scored on a sacrifice fly to left.
Maggie Darr got the Demons out of the bases loaded, one-out situation only allowing the lone run to score.
NSU got the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh after a leadoff double from
Bailie Ragsdale starting the inning, the first hit since the third inning for the Demons.
A soft liner to third, fly ball to left and swinging strikeout left Ragsdale standing at second ending the game and the series.
Seely threw 5 1/3 innings in the game allowing two run on just three hits with five strikeouts. Darr pitched 1 2/3 of relief in the game giving up just one hit with a pair of Ks.
The Demons return to action in a midweek contest at Louisiana Tech on Tuesday before traveling to Lamar for their first conference road series.
