HOUSTON – Northwestern State pitcher Sage Hoover struck out 14 in a 5-1 victory in game one, then the Lady Demons rode a six-run first inning to a 10-2 win to sweep HBU in the Southland Conference-opening doubleheader Friday night at Husky Field.
 
In the first game, sophomore shortstop Shelby Echols went 1-for-3 after having her 21-game hitting streak snapped Wednesday and senior rightfielder Sarah Venker went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
 
Sophomore Lyndie Swanson (4-3) took the loss, allowing five runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and four walks in seven innings.
 
Keely DuBois went 2-for-4 with a home run and drove in four runs for NSU, while Laney Roos went 3-for-4 and scored a run. Taylor Williams was 1-for-2, walked twice and scored three times.
 
Hoover (6-3) allowed one run on two hits, while walking one and hitting two batters in the complete-game performance.
 
DuBois' three-run shot in the top of the seventh put NSU ahead, 5-0, but Hoover loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half, before getting out of the jam only allowing one run.
 
In the second game, Echols went 1-for-4 and scored a run and junior catcher Jasie Roberts was 1-for-3 with and scored a run. Freshman third baseman Haylie Savage was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
 
Redshirt freshman Madison Cotton (2-4) took the loss, going the distance, allowing six earned runs on 12 hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
 
Derika Castillo went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair, while Tristin Court homered and drove in a pair. Williams was 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and scored twice. Bailie Ragsdale, Roos and DuBois each collected two hits.
 
Maggie Darr (8-2) earned the win, allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits with five strikeouts and a walk in seven innings.
 
The series concludes with a noon first pitch Saturday.