NATCHITOCHES – One crooked-number inning in both games of Friday's doubleheader helped McNeese pick up a series sweep of Northwestern State.
The Cowgirls did the bulk of their damage on the weekend during their second trip through the lineup. A four-run third in the first game of the day propelled them to a 7-1 win while a five-run third in game two was enough to secure the 8-0 run-rule win in game two.
The Demons took the lead for the second straight game with a run in the bottom of the first.
Laney Roos drew a four-pitch walk with two outs and scored from first on a ringing double off the wall in left from
Cameron Curtis.
The first career hit for freshman
Carissa Hernandez led to a prime scoring chance in the bottom of the second as well.
Mia Liscano and
Taylor Williams reached base after Hernandez to load the bases with two outs, but a three-pitch strikeout left them all standing on their bases.
NSU left 10 runners on base in the game, the same number as McNeese, and at least one left stranded in all seven innings.
Back-to-back solo home runs to start the third put the Cowgirls ahead with an RBI single pushing the lead to 3-1 and the first of eight total unearned runs of the day crossed the plate four batters later.
The Demons got the first three batters of the fourth inning to reach on a pair of hits and a hit by pitch. A force out at home on a ground ball gave the Cowgirls the first out before one of two double plays turned by the McNeese defense ended the threat with no runs scoring.
McNeese added to the lead with single runs in each of the final three innings of the game, the final two coming with two-out hits.
In the second game the Cowgirls took the lead three batters into the game after a double and error put the leadoff batter at third base. A single to center gave them the 1-0 lead scoring the first of six unearned runs in the game.
The Demons committed three errors, including one in the critical third innings that led to three extra runs in the five-run frame.
Taylor Williams picked up NSU's lone hit in the finale, a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, she reached third base before being doubled off on a popped up squeeze bunt attempt to end the inning.
