JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Northwestern State produced some late-inning fireworks in both games of Saturday's doubleheader, one resulting in a near comeback and the other finishing one off.
 
The Demons (5-10) split Saturday's high-scoring action using a three-run fifth to close the gap in an eventual 10-6 loss to Gardner-Webb (8-4), before a four-run fourth and a pair of two-run frames led to an 8-6 win against DePaul (7-7)
 
"I thought we competed well today," head coach Jenny Fuller said. "We had good moments in both games, and I really liked our fight throughout. We asked a lot of (Mattison) Buster and she really stepped up. Our hitters really came through in the late innings too. All around, today was a step forward for us and something we can build on."
 
Like they did in the first game of the weekend against Gardner-Webb on Friday, the Demons struck first in the second game on Saturday.
 
JT Smith and Sophia Livers both reached base to start the game, Smith on a hit-by-pitch and Livers via a walk, then after a double steal and back-to-back wild pitches, NSU had a quick 2-0 lead.
 
The Bulldogs offered an equally as swift response in the bottom of the inning with three hits from the first four batters, all singles, to even things up at two on a two-run knock to left. Aly Delafield's one-out double in the second however, allowed the Demons to regain the lead in the second following a throwing error that extended the inning.
 
The Bulldogs had another response in the second, one that gave them the lead for good. Four straight hits started the inning, including a game-tying double evening the score at three. Another 2-run double put GWU ahead 5-3 and a bases loaded walk stretched the lead to three at 6-3 after two innings.
 
Another double in the third to start the frame led to another run, along with a sacrifice fly pushing the Bulldog lead to five after three.
 
After a scoreless fourth from both teams, the Demons were finally able to strike back with a big extra-base hit of their own. After two quick outs to start the inning, back-to-back base hits from Makynlie Jones and Camryn Benel and a walk to Abby Hollingsworth loaded the bases.
 
Delafield lined a ball into the left center gap, clearing the bases with her first triple of the season pulling the Demons back within a pair at 8-6.
 
The momentum was quickly dashed however as a walk and 2-run home run in the bottom of the frame pushed the Bulldog lead back to four two batters into the bottom of the inning.
 
Jones got the final hit of the game for either team in the seventh, earning her first three-hit game as a Demon, but no other threat materialized for the Demons.
 
Following two scoreless inning in the game against DePaul, the Blue Demons took the lead on an RBI groundout and two-out single in the bottom of the third. The lead only lasted for a few batters as the Demons produced another multi-run inning to jump ahead.
 
Four hits from the first five batters of the inning tied the game at two as Camryn Becnel and Sara Watson drove in runs on consecutive base hits. NSU took the lead on a fielder's choice and Hayden Andrews doubled it with a base hit up the middle.
 
DePaul runs in the bottom of the fourth (sacrifice bunt) and fifth (sacrifice fly) tied the game at four after five innings of play.
 
Six hits over the final two innings from the Demons provided the timely hitting they have been striving for all season to help secure the win. A pair of singles in the sixth led to an Andrews sac fly that gave NSU the lead back and a Brynn Daniel two-out single pushed it to two.
 
Back-to-back base hits in the seventh gave NSU and 8-4 lead as JT Smith and Mckenna Rinewalt each picked up an RBI, providing the insurance the Demons needed to hold off a late DePaul rally in the bottom of the inning.
 
Two straight hits and a 2-run single with one out made the bottom of the seventh a little more pressure-packed for Buster, but she never let the tying run reach base, getting the next two batters on ground balls to the left side, securing her fourth complete game of the year and second in two days.
 
Four players had multi-hit games against DePaul, led by Daniel's 3-for-4 effort. Seven different batters drove in a run with Andrews leading the charge with two, her first multi-RBI game as a Demon.
 
NSU finished play this weekend with another doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. with a rematch against DePaul before a 12:30 p.m. first pitch against the host Jacksonville State.