NATCHITOCHES – A less-than-crisp performance in game one and a multitude of missed chances in game two cost Northwestern State both ends of Friday's doubleheader against UIW.
 
The Demons (20-21, 9-8) committed three errors, uncorked a pair of wild pitches and played slightly askew throughout the opener, leading to an 11-1 run-rule loss in six innings. The Cardinals (27-14, 12-5) broke the game open with a seven-run sixth.
 
In the nightcap, NSU left 10 runners on base, including eight in the first three innings, missing an early opportunity to seize control in what became a 3-1 final.
 
"We just didn't play clean softball in either game," head coach Jenny Fuller said. "Against a team like that, you can't give away outs or chances and expect a different result. We were better in the second game, but just didn't get the hits when we needed them and against good teams like UIW, you have to take advantage when you get those chances."
 
UIW did its early damage with two outs in the first inning of game one, delivering a bases-loaded double to left-center that plated two. The first of NSU's three errors extended the play, allowing a third run to score on a misplayed relay throw.
 
The Demons answered in the bottom half. JT Smith drew a leadoff walk and scored on a Brynn Daniel base hit, capitalizing on a UIW throwing error earlier in the inning.
 
Back-to-back hits in the second gave NSU a chance to tie, with Smith returning to the plate with two outs, but UIW's defense, particularly on the left side, consistently cut down rallies.
 
Smith drove a ball into the left-center gap that was tracked down by UIW's Ayla Gonzalez, who finished with five putouts and made plays from the line to the gap throughout the day.
 
NSU outhit UIW 6-5 through the first five innings but trailed 4-1 after a pair of Cardinal doubles in the third.
 
The Cardinals finally broke through in the sixth, sending the first four hitters aboard—two via bunt singles and another on a walk. A sacrifice fly started the scoring before a base hit and a grand slam from Sydney Zenon put the game out of reach. Another sac fly capped the seven-run frame.
 
UIW scored in two of the three innings in which NSU committed an error, though only one run was unearned. The three errors matched a season high (last occurring March 20 at Southeastern) after the Demons had just three total errors in their previous eight games combined.
 
NSU responded with a cleaner, more crisp performance in game two but couldn't find the timely hit early.
 
Two-time SLC Player of the Year Victoria Altamirano set the tone immediately, doubling on the second pitch of the game and scoring moments later. She stole third and came home on a throwing error to give UIW a 1-0 lead.
 
The Demons mounted a two-out rally in the bottom half as Peyton Young singled, Brynn Daniel was hit by a pitch and Aly Delafield reached on an infield single. A three-pitch strikeout stranded all three, the first of two innings in which NSU left the bases loaded.
 
After leaving two more aboard in the second on another ball tracked down at the wall by Gonzalez, NSU threatened again in the third. Young singled, Daniel was hit by a pitch and Sister Arnold walked to load the bases.
 
A strikeout gave UIW two outs before a fielding error on Sophia Livers' ball allowed the tying run to score. Britt Bourgoyne then squared up a 2-1 pitch that was snagged at short, leaving the bases loaded again.
 
"We had the right hitters up in big spots, we just didn't get it done," Fuller said. "Credit to UIW's defense. They played well all night and definitely took some hits and runs away from us all day. We just have to keep working, putting the ball in play and those hits will come."
 
The Demons stranded two more in the fourth, and UIW made them pay in the fifth when Altamirano launched her league-leading 18th home run over the left-field wall to reclaim the lead.
 
UIW's defense preserved the advantage in the bottom half, cutting down NSU on a double-steal attempt and tagging Cameron Curtis out at the plate to end the inning.
 
They picked up a controversial third run in the top of the seventh on a base hit up the middle with runners at first and second. Charging the ball hard and having already doubled off a Cardinal runner at first in game one, JT Smith threw a strike to the plate where Arnold applied the tag and the runner was called out.
 
After a challenge from UIW, the calls was overturned and the runner called safe.
 
The momentum that was stolen from the Demons with the change of call sent them down in order to finish the game.
 
The two teams wrap up the three-game series Saturday at 12 p.m.