NATCHITOCHES – For the second straight game Northwestern State erased a multi-run deficit against HCU, but for the second game in a row could not complete the comeback in an 8-6 loss on Saturday afternoon.
"I'm again proud of their fight, and I think we did a good job of putting up runs earlier in the game," head coach
Jenny Fuller said. "Just our pitching staff is young and they're going to give up runs and we need to be able to protect the lead when we have it and we just didn't do that.
"For our hitters, when we give up runs, we need to get some momentum going our way. I am proud of the way that they fought to the very end when we could have just gotten run-ruled. I told them that we're right there. We just have got to keep working hard."
The Demons (3-20, 0-3) trailed by six after a six-run top of the third from HCU but were able to erase the deficit with back-to-back three-run innings. NSU rallied for three on four straight two-out hits in the third and used three walks and a hit-by-pitch to tie the game in the fourth.
Enduring the huge comeback, the Huskies (9-11, 3-0) responded with a run in the top of the next inning to regain the lead and added another insurance run in the seventh to secure the win.
After two scoreless innings for both teams to start the game, the Huskies got six straight hits. Four straight hits brought in a run with an RBI double later in the stretch putting HCU 6-0.
The Demons cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning on a string of hits of their own.
After two straight ground outs to start the inning,
Cameron Curtis,
Riley Schwisow and
Brynn Daniel each hit sharp singles through the left side to load the bases. The fourth consecutive hit went to the opposite side of the field on a flare single over the first baseman by
DJ Lynch to score two runs.
With runner's at the corners, Lynch took baited a throw from the catcher on a steal attempt opening the door for Daniel to sprint home from third in a perfect execution of a double steal to score NSU's third run.
Reliever
Kaymie Chandler put up a zero in the top half of the inning allowing the NSU bats to get back to work in the bottom of the frame.
Again, with two outs in the inning, the Demons loaded the bases thanks to three walks total in the frame and a hit batter. On the first pitch she saw,
Peyton Peck drove a ball to the opposite field beyond the reach of the right fielder that bounced over the wall for a two-run ground-rule double, preventing the go-ahead run from scoring from first and giving Peck a sure triple.
"Peyton did a great job," Fuller said. "Really proud of her. She came in clutch when I think there were two outs scored some runs for us. Hopefully she can continue that and stay hot."
As the Demons benefited from the walks in the bottom of the inning, the Huskies did so in the seventh to move back ahead.
The leadoff batter reached on four out of the zone and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. She came around to score on a single to left center on the first pitch to HCU's Hanna York giving the Huskies back the lead they had just surrendered.
NSU did not muster any offense in the fifth or sixth innings down by a run. An RBI groundout to second gave HCU an insurance run in the seventh and a two-run lead.
Peck just missed her second home run of the game on a double off the wall in left to start the bottom of the seventh bringing the tying run to the plate. Two pop ups on the infield and a ground ball to short left the Demons wanting for the second game in a row.
Peck produced the first four-hit game of the season for the Demons with a pair of singles and two doubles going 4-for-4 on the day. Lynch had three RBI in the game with her two-run single and a bases loaded walk, one of two free passes she drew in the game.
