NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State flashed plenty of leather and created a bucket full of scoring chances, but were unable to prevent a game one barrage or cash in those chances in game two leading to a pair of losses.
 
Jacksonville State pulled away late for a 12-1 win over the Demons to start the final day of the NSU Classic, scoring nine runs in the final three innings, completing their 4-0 week in Natchitoches. NSU pounded out 10 hits in the weekend finale against Memphis, but left nine runners on base in a 3-2 loss to the Tigers.
 
For the fourth time this season NSU took an early lead on its opponent with a run in the first inning.
 
Bailie Ragsdale reached on an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error. Another throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Riley Schwisow allowed Ragsdale to score easily from second as the throw sailed up the right field line.
 
The lead only lasted until the next half inning as Jacksonville State continued their hot hitting with a three-run home run to center giving them the lead.
 
After two scoreless innings from both teams, the Gamecock's relentless swings produced the crooked numbers in each of the final three innings, scoring two in the fifth, three more in the sixth and four in the seventh to run away with the win.
 
In the weekend finale against Memphis, it was the Tigers that took a first-inning lead on a two-out single up the middle, two batters after a two-out double to right center.
 
The Demons engineered a response in the bottom of the inning with a two-out rally of their own to load the bases, but were unable to cash in on their chance. They were more fortunate with their chance in the second inning.
 
With the bases loaded and one out, after single from Tori Clayton and Camryn Becnel and a walk to Sophia Livers, redshirt freshman Cash Herber delivered the goods with a sharp single passed the drawn in infield for the first two RBIs of her career.
 
"I was really happy for her, especially since she followed us her from Pitt," head coach Jenny Fuller said. "She's been working through some hitting stuff with Coach Brad (Fuller), so I was really excited for her to see the work pay off and her to come through there."
 
The two-out rally from Memphis to start the game was the first of multiple such scoring threats throughout the first four innings. NSU starter Brooklynn Stohler retired the first two batters of every inning, but surrendered a hit or walk to the third batter each time.
 
A home run in the third tied the game at two and a double in the fourth put the Tigers up by one. Those were the only runs Stohler allowed in the game as she tossed her fourth complete game in six appearances this season.
 
The Tiger rallies were held in check throughout the game thanks to one of the best defensive performances of the year from the Demons.
 
Sophomore outfielders Cameron Curtis and Sophia Livers each made diving catches to rob hits and more potential runs, third baseman Brynn Daniel made a diving spot and throw from her knees to get a speedy runner and short stop Camryn Becnel made multiple plays to her left and right including a 6-3 double play to end the fifth inning.
 
"I told them in our postgame huddle how the defense has been doing a great job of having their pitcher's back" Fuller said. "That's something that I've always put a big emphasis on, so it's nice to see the hard work that we do on defense is showing up in the game. That will always keep us in games too." 
 
The Demons had 10 hits in the game, including five in fourth and fifth innings, but were unable to find the same clutch hit from earlier in the game. They had the tying run thrown out at home or left standing at third three times our of the final four innings.
 
All nine players in the starting lineup got a hit in the game with Schwisow getting her second two-hit game against Memphis on the weekend.