NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State continued its search for more timely hitting Friday as it dropped both games of a doubleheader to Nicholls, 6-0 and 15-6.

The Demons (23-27, 12-14) left 16 runners on base across the two games, missing chances at early runs in Game 1 and much-needed runs in Game 2, while Nicholls (29-20, 17-9) took advantage of free passes in the nightcap to secure a run-rule win in five innings.
 
"We had opportunities throughout the day, but against a good team you have to capitalize when those chances come," head coach Jenny Fuller said. "We created traffic, but we didn't finish innings offensively, and on the other side we gave them too many free bases. That's a tough combination to overcome."
 
When facing a quality pitcher, early chances can be critical. The Demons had theirs against Nicholls ace Molly Yoo, but could not break through.
 
A pair of hits from Sophia Livers and Brynn Daniel in the first inning put two runners aboard with two outs, giving the Demons a chance to score in the opening frame, something they have done often this season.
 
A ground ball to second got Yoo out of trouble and kept the game scoreless. Demon ace Mattison Buster then breezed through the top of the second on eight pitches to keep momentum with the NSU bats.
 
Sister Arnold opened the second with a base hit to center, and Peyton Young was hit by a pitch to put the first two runners on. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners up a base, and Britt Bourgoyne reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with one out. Two straight ground balls to the left side though led to force outs at home, ending the threat.
 
From there, Yoo settled into a groove, retiring 15 of the next 17 batters she faced to complete the shutout. NSU's only baserunners the rest of the game came on a Riley Schwisow double in the fourth and a Daniel single in the sixth, her second hit of the game.
 
The Colonels used their escape in the second as momentum to take the lead in the third. A one-out triple down the right field line set up the game's first run on an RBI single to right.
 
Nicholls added three more in the fifth on four hits to stretch the lead, then put the game away with a two-run, two-out single in the sixth for the 6-0 final.
 
The Colonels carried that offensive momentum into the second game and got help from Demon pitching.
 
Three walks to the first three batters loaded the bases and were followed by a two-run single to right, a three-run homer to left-center and a two-run homer to left, giving Nicholls a 7-0 lead just eight batters into the game.
 
The first three batters of the bottom of the inning also reached for the Demons as JT Smith was hit by a pitch for the 22nd time this season and Mckenna Rinewalt singled to short. Peyton Young drove the first of her three hits in the nightcap to the wall in right for an RBI double to get NSU on the board.
 
Daniel brought in Rinewalt with a single up the middle, and Young later scored on a steal of home as the Demons answered with three runs in the inning.
 
That was all they managed, however, and they could not keep pace with the Colonel offense, which answered with three runs in the second, another three-run frame in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
 
The Demons cashed in Young's second hit, a leadoff single in the third, for another run, but for the second time on the day failed to take advantage of a bases-loaded, one-out situation.
 
A lineout to left was not deep enough to score a run, and a groundout to second stranded three more runners.
 
Three walks, plus an RBI single from Young in the fourth, set up another potential big inning for NSU with the bases loaded and no outs.
 
Makynlie Jones drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to left for the second run of the frame, but a strikeout and soft liner back to the pitcher left the bases loaded again.
 
NSU had 10 hits in the second game, just one fewer than Nicholls' 11, but produced only six runs and stranded nine runners after leaving seven on base in the opener.
 
The Demons also issued nine walks in Game 2, six of which either scored or directly produced a run.
 
Northwestern State and Nicholls will wrap up the 2026 regular season at noon Saturday, with NSU honoring its three senior players following the game.