NATCHITOCHES – For the third straight game Northwestern State struck first. This time, it struck deep.
A three-run homer from
Makynlie Jones in the opening frame set the tone and a solo shot in the third from
JT Smith helped carry the Demons (9-13) to a 7-2 win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-11) in the finale of the 2026 City of Lights Classic.
The power surge was plenty of support for the pitching combination of
Brooklynn Stohler and
Mattison Buster who threw 7.0 strong innings allowing just two runs on two hits with nine combined strikeouts.
"Each time we win it gives us more confidence that we can win," head coach
Jenny Fuller said. "After last year, it was a lot of just hoping that we could win. This year it feels like we know that we can win. To have somebody like Buster come in and shut things down like she did today, we didn't have that luxury last year. We're finding all the right pieces that fit together and learning as we go."
NSU's keen eye for the strike zone this weekend, drawing 28 walks across five games, helped them put up three more first-inning runs on Sunday.
A leadoff walk to
JT Smith and a five-pitch free pass to
Brynn Daniel set up Jones' first long ball of the season two batters later, a no-doubt blast deep over the left center wall giving NSU a 3-0 lead and 15 first-inning runs over the past three games.
"Scoring in the first inning is always great," Jones said. "It sets you up for success in every game that you play. You give yourself a much better chance to win the game if you can do that."
Smith, who scored on Jones' long ball in the first, got in on the homer parade in the third depositing her own no-doubt blast over the right field wall to give the Demons a 4-0 lead on their fourth home run of the weekend, after having none through the first 17 games.
"From the offensive side I know Coach Brad (Fuller) was excited to see some home runs because we expect that from those players that can hit it out," Fuller said. "With them doing that this weekend it'll give them confidence as we move on."
The two long balls would have been more than enough offense for the Demons thanks to another quality start and outing in the circle by the pitching staff.
Stohler struck out the first two batters she faced in the game on eight pitches, had five Ks through three and finished with a new career high seven punchouts in 4 1/3 innings of work. She retired the first 10-of-11 batters she faced in the game and did not allow a hit until a one-out single to center in the fourth.
Her only blemish came in the fifth after a pair of walks, a double and a sacrifice fly led to a pair of runs for the Lions. Buster got the Demons out of the fifth-inning jam and dominated the rest of the game, sitting down all eight batters she faced in order to earn her third career save and first as a Demon.
"I knew from the first pitch when I could see it moving from the outfield that it was going to be a good day for her," Jones said about Stohler's stuff. "She did great and was awesome today."
The Demons responded with a run in the bottom of the inning on an
Aly Delafield RBI groundout and picked up two more in the sixth on a Smith base hit through the left side, making her 2-for-3 on the day with three RBI and two runs scored.
