MONROE, La. – The ULM softball squad came out on top 5-4 in a back-and-forth affair against Northwestern State Wednesday night inside ULM Softball Complex.
ULM (15-14) never led until the bottom of the sixth inning despite scratching runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Sophomore Paige Porter (3-1) picked up the win in relief, allowing just one hit during two scoreless innings.
NSU (18-10) scored two in the top of the first inning on a two-run homer from left fielder Natalie Landry that clanked off the left-field pole. The Warhawks responded in the bottom of the third as senior shortstop Faith Bohack plated junior left fielder Rochelle Roberts on a single to left field.
Both teams scored one run in the fourth and fifth innings. Lady Demon shortstop Hailee Rhodes drove in a run on an RBI single up the middle in the top fourth, and sophomore Cheyanne Lyon countered with a double over the center fielder's head which scored sophomore pinch runner Hunter Hogan.
NSU leadoff hitter Kellye Kincannon hit a solo homer in the fifth to dead center field with a steady wind blowing in, but freshman right fielder Sydney McKay answered the call in the bottom half, plating Roberts on a chopper up the middle to make it a one-run game at 4-3 in NSU's favor.
Porter's brilliant outing started in the sixth as she retired the first three batters she faced which kept the Warhawks in striking distance.
In the bottom half of the sixth, junior center fielder Sidney Coy was down 1-2 before getting hit by a pitch and Lyon advanced her to third on a single to right field. Roberts then hit a deep fly to left that scored Coy and Bohack smacked a grounder to second base that went right under Sarah Huey's glove, allowing Lyon to reach home as the deciding run.
The Lady Demons had runners on first and second with one out in the seventh before Porter clamped down and retired the next two batters which ended the game.
Bohack, Lyon, McKay and Roberts each notched two hits and an RBI. Bohack also stole three bases, matching a career high. Freshman Rachel Tadlock, making her third start of the year at designated hitter, walked twice in three at-bats.
ULM will travel to Texas State this weekend and play a three-game series beginning Friday in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
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