SOFTBALL — Northwestern State receives production up and down lineup in victories over Nicholls

THIBODAUX — One common dominator was present for the Northwestern State softball team Friday night at Nicholls. The Lady Demons didn’t have any trouble putting up runs.

The differentiation occurred in where those runs came from. The top of the lineup produced in the 8-3 win in the opener, while the heart of the starting nine accounted for most of the runs in the 10-1 (five innings) nightcap victory.

“It was kind of two different games,” head coach Donald Pickett said. “And I was glad to see us win a couple different ways today.”

The victories push NSU’s record to 8-7 overall and 2-0 in Southland Conference play. The losses drop Nicholls to 6-7 overall and 0-2 in league action.

While the bats were present and more than accounted for, the pitching also had a performance worth noting. Sophomore Bronte Rhoden received the start and logged the win in Game 1, while junior Jensen Howell went the distance in Game 2.

“I thought our pitchers did a really good job of getting ahead,” Pickett said. “Both kids threw quality starts, and I think the offense being able to jump on them in the first three innings was a huge factor. That settled them in and made them confident in their pitches.”

The Lady Demons wrap up their series against Nicholls on Saturday at 12 p.m.

NSU 8, Nicholls 3

Rhoden was sharp from the outset. She recorded three straight scoreless innings en route to twirling 5.1 innings pitched.

Rhoden surrendered three runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and moved her record to 2-2 on the season. She was relieved by junior E.C. Delafield who tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless relief with one strikeout.

After failing to plate a run in the first two innings, the Lady Demons found their form, scoring four in the third. Junior second baseman Cayla Jones knocked home the first run, scoring senior outfielder Hayley Barbazon who reached on a single.

Freshman Kat Marshall plated Jones on an RBI single of her own, while NSU’s other two runs were scored via errors.

Jones registered another RBI in the fourth and freshman Laney Roos recorded a RBI sacrifice fly, which gave NSU a 6-0 advantage. Senior Elise Vincent accounted for the final RBI of the opener on a single in the fifth.

Vincent and Jones — hitting one-two in the lineup — enjoyed three-hit days, while Barbazon logged two hits.

NSU 10, Nicholls 1 (5 innings)

Much like in Game 1, it took the Lady Demons a couple innings to find its offensive stride, but once it did, the Colonels didn’t stand a chance. NSU scored five in the third, three in the fourth and another two in the fifth to end Game 2 swiftly.

Jones remained hot at the dish, registering another three hits, one of which was a solo home run. Sophomore catcher Alexis Perry had the best game at the plate, boasting three hits — one being a three-run homer — and four RBIs.

Junior E.C. Delafield had a pair of base knocks and a pair of RBIs. Howell helped out her own cause with her team-leading third home run of the season.

Howell only needed to pitch five innings, but she was sharp in those five. She scattered four hits and yielded one run with six strikeouts. The decision improves her to 4-3 on the season.