A seventh inning, two out rally which saw a two-run home run by sophomore Amanda Jameson and a game-winning RBI single by junior Cary Bruno lifted Northwestern State to a 4-3 win over Stephen F. Austin on Sunday in Southland Conference softball action.



NSU (10-45, 6-19 SLC) won its second conference series of the season and avoided becoming the only team in Demon softball history without 10 wins in a season.



“It was an exciting game for sure,” said third year NSU head coach Becky McMurtry. “It feels great to end the season with a win. You usually don’t have the opportunity to do that.”



SFA (33-23, 18-11) took an early 1-0 lead with a single run in the first inning. The Ladyjacks added two more runs to their total in the third inning and rode a 3-0 lead into the fifth.



NSU freshman Leslie Johnson put the Demons on the board and tried to spark a rally with a solo home run to left field to open the fifth frame. Senior Mallorie Thornton singled, sophomore Randi Stuard was hit by a pitch, and with two outs, Jameson walked to load the bases. But the Ladyjacks tightened the screws and escaped with a 3-1 lead, leaving the Demons with three runners stranded.



The Demons could not be denied in the seventh inning, ending the season with a monumental rally. After the first two batters were retired, junior Brittany Card kept NSU’s hopes alive with a single down the left field line. Jameson followed with her second homer of the weekend, third of the season and ninth of her career.



“Jameson came out swinging this weekend and hit some clutch home runs that impacted the outcome of both wins,” said McMurtry.



With the game even at three, senior Kelly Corliss cracked her third double of the weekend, none bigger than this one. She moved to third on a wild pitch. Bruno singled down the left field line to plate Corliss and give the Demons their first lead of the game, 4-3.



“We have been talking about playing every pitch and never quitting,” McMurtry said. “I couldn’t give a better definition of that than what happened today. Scoring three runs with two outs in the last inning of the season – that’s what I consider making every pitch count.”



NSU freshman Sara Dornelas (7-24) tossed the final 4.2 innings to earn the win. In the bottom of the seventh, she induced a popup to third base and a grounder back to herself before allowing a single through the left side. With the winning run at the plate, Dornelas struck out the final SFA batter to give NSU its season-ending victory. It was Dornelas’ only strikeout in the contest as she surrendered only three hits.



“Sara was focused when she entered in the third inning and she knew what she had to do,” McMurtry said. “She allowed the defense to make some big plays behind her and she went out and simply got the job done.”



Freshman Katey Barr pitched the first 2.1 innings for the Demons, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits with one walk and one strikeout. Ladyjack pitcher Monika Covington (17-12) suffered her second loss of the weekend, throwing 6.2 innings and allowing four earned runs on eight hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.



The Demons once again outhit the Ladyjacks, putting up nine compared to SFA’s eight. Bruno led the attack for NSU with a three-for-four showing and a clutch RBI. Corliss went added two hits, including her third double of the weekend.



“Kelly played great all weekend,” McMurtry said. “She constantly made amazing plays at third base, robbing sure hits. And offensively, she came through for us in a big way. It is really good to see her career come to an end with such a solid weekend of play.”



Though it was only the 10th win of the season for the Demon squad, it sure meant more to the team than just another game.



“I am just so extremely proud of these girls and the heart they showed on the field today,” said McMurtry. “They could have easily given up since we don’t have a chance at the SLC tournament, but they came out and gave it everything they had. That shows me they really want to be out here competing.”