JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Behind another complete game from Mattison Buster and a three-run first inning, Northwestern State opened its third tournament weekend with a 4-2 win.
 
For the third time this season and the second time in the past three starts, Buster, a junior transfer, threw a complete game helping the Demons (4-9) turn an early offensive burst into a win against Gardner-Webb (6-4).
 
"Buster gave us a solid effort in the circle," head coach Jenny Fuller said. "She competed well, attacked hitters and kept us in a good rhythm defensively. 
 
"And it was great to see our offense come out aggressive and put runs up early. When we can set the tone like that, it gives us momentum for the rest of the game."
 
After Buster retired the side in order to start the game, NSU's first three batters of the game reached base, leading to its first run. JT Smith opened the inning with a base hit to left and Brynn Daniel's hot bat brought her in two batters later on an RBI single.
 
A throwing error as Daniel swiped second allowed Mckenna Rinewalt, who was hit by a pitch, to score from third. Makynlie Jones followed with an RBI double down the right field line, staking the Demons to a three-run lead after the first inning.
 
Errors in the top and bottom halves of the second inning led to runs for both teams. A throwing error in the top of the frame led to the Bulldogs' first run, while an error at second allowed Smith to score from first and put Rinewalt at third in the bottom.
 
The four runs of support, a seemingly magic number for Buster who got four runs in her complete game shutout of Eastern Illinois a week ago, were plenty as the junior transfer cruised through the rest of the game.
 
She worked around a leadoff single in the third and sixth innings to put up zeros and retiring the side in order in both the fifth and seventh. The only other blemish to her line came in the fourth, after a leadoff single, wild pitch and error set up GWU's second and final run on a sacrifice fly to right. 
 
Buster allowed just two runs, neither of them earned, on four hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three.
 
It was the fourth time this year she has pitched four or more innings without allowing an earned run or walking a batter, dropping her season ERA to 1.91 in more than 40 innings of work.
 
The Demons had runners reach base in every inning of the game and had at least one runner on base with one out or less every time at the plate.
 
Smith finished the game with a pair of hits and scored two runs while Daniel matched a career-best streak reaching base in 11 straight games after a hit and a pair of walks.
 
Hayden Andrews became the first player since Shenequia Abby in 2014 to steal three bases in a game, taking second in the first, third and fifth innings.
 
NSU continues play in the Jacksonville State Tournament on Saturday when it faces Gardner-Webb again at 10 a.m. followed by a 12:30 p.m. start against DePaul.