#25 UNC Steals Win Over Lady Demons, #20 ULL Dominates

The Northwestern State softball team fell to No. 25 North Carolina 1-0 Sunday morning as a Tar Heel runner stole home plate on an unconventional play in the fifth inning at the ULL Mardi Gras Invitational, and in the tournament's final game the 20th-ranked host team dumped the Lady Demons 10-0.

The Lady Demons (2-6) will play their third consecutive contest against a ranked opponent on Wednesday when they travel to No. 9 Baylor in a doubleheader starting at 3.

In a game resumed Sunday afternoon after being suspended Friday night by heavy rain, UNC's Kelsey Green reached base in the fifth on a walk to start the inning. She advanced to third after a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Tar Heel leadoff hitter Kelli Wheeler walked and immediately broke for second. After NSU had Wheeler caught in a run-down, Green broke for home and beat the throw to steal the only run of the game.

Kylie Roos (1-3) went the distance for the Lady Demons on the mound, allowing just two hits. Sara Buchholz (2-0) earned the win for UNC (7-0), throwing a two-hit complete game shutout.

Brianna Rodriguez and Tara McKenney each tallied hits for the Lady Demons. Rodriguez knocked a single up the middle in the second, while McKenney sprinted for an infield single in the fifth.

The Lady Demons threatened in the top of the sixth with runners on first and second when Brittany Virgoe walked and Kylie Roos reached on an error with one out. Buchholz was able to get the next two hitters to fly out and strike out.

Virgoe's walk extended her on-base streak to all seven games this season.

Louisiana-Lafayette posted a six-inning, run-rule victory in six innings Sunday evening in the final game of the tournament.

The Ragin' Cajuns (7-0) scored seven early runs, and NSU just wasn't able to muster the offense to get back in it. Kelee Grimes (1-3) recorded the loss for the Lady Demons, while Ashley Brignac (3-0) earned the win.

Roos continued to flourish for NSU, pitching two innings of relief and holding ULL scoreless. Sara Aasness also pitched two innings out of the bullpen, striking out a pair.

At the plate, McKenney recorded her fourth multi-hit game of the year with a single and triple, and extended her hitting streak to three games. She beat out an infield single in the third, and crushed a triple to left center in the sixth.

Brianna Rodriguez singled for the second straight game when she roped a ball to leftfield in the second.

In the first inning, ULL registered a two out single, which led to Paige Cormier's hit over the leftfield fence to give the Ragin Cajuns the early 2-0 lead.

In the second, the Ragin Cajuns added on with a bases loaded walk followed by a wild pitch. Preseason First-Team All-American Christi Orgeron cleared the bases with a triple and scored on an error to make it 7-0.

ULL cashed in on a couple singles when Matte Haack hit a three-run homer to left field in the sixth to raise the lead to 10-0.

The Lady Demons are at home next weekend to host their own tournament.