NATCHITOCHES—McNeese softball made a huge comeback here Friday night in the opening game of its Southland Conference series opening game against Northwestern State only to fall 9-8 in eight innings on a walk-off home run by Micayla Sorosiak to end the game.
 
The Cowgirls (28-10, 13-3 SLC) struggled from the plate, leaving six runners stranded, all in scoring position in the first five innings. Cowgirl starter Emily Vincent didn't have her best night in the circle as she gave up six runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings.
 
The Cowgirls who have outscored Southland Conference opponents 104-19, gave up eight runs in the first four innings and were held scoreless in those innings while picking up only two hits.
 
I'm extremely proud of how the kids fought back tonight," said head coach Joanna Hardin. "We had a slow start and easily could have thrown in the towel but that isn't who we are. These kids are committed to compete every out, every game no matter what the scoreboard says.
   
After a scoreless first inning, Northwestern State (24-16, 7-9 SLC) put up five runs in the second inning with four of those runs coming off a two out grand slam by freshman designated player Kaylee Isenburg. The home run is the first of her career.
 
The Demons added three more runs in the fourth on four hits and one Cowgirl error. After Vincent gave up a one out single to Sidney Salmans in the top of the fourth she was replaced by sophomore Jolie Trahan who pitched the remainder of the game.
 
"Jolie (Trahan) came in and did a great job keeping us in the game. She stayed very composed and executed pitches when we needed her to."
 
The Cowgirls had their backs against the wall, trailing 8-0 in the fifth inning with two outs and facing their first run rule loss of the season until Hailey Drew singled to center to score Marisa Taunton to avoid both the shutout and the run-rule loss.
 
The run in the fifth ignited the Cowgirl offense and sparked their comeback. McNeese kept chipping away at the NW State lead and scored two more runs in the sixth. Back-to-back singles by Tori Yanitor and Vincent started things off for the Cowgirls. Both players scored on two wild pitches to cut the lead to 8-3.
 
The Cowgirls used the home run ball in the seventh inning to scored five runs on five hits to send the game into extra innings. After walking the previous four times, All-American Erika Piancastelli came to the plate to lead off the seventh. Piancastelli made the Demons pay as she hit her single season record 19^th home run over the centerfield wall to cut the lead in half.
"Erika's home run in the seventh gave us an extra spark. Our offense flipped a switch in the fifth and seeing that happen was a huge positive for us. We have a lot of positives to take away and bring into tomorrow's doubleheader.
 
Following Piancastelli's home run, Drew was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Yanitor brought the Cowgirls to within two (8-6) on her third home run of the season. Taylor Goree kept things going with a two out single to right field then Shanice Hagler doubled to right center, moving Goree all the way to third.  After a pitching change by the Demons, pinch hitter Rachel Smith was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Taunton's bloop single down the left field line scored both Goree and Hagler to tie the game at eight all and Smith was thrown out at second on the play to end the inning.
 
Trahan got Northwestern State to go down in order in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
 
Piancastelli led the top of the eighth off with a walk and went to second when Morgan Catron was hit by a pitch for the 20^th time this season. McNeese failed to score the go ahead run as Yanitor popped out to first and Vincent flew out to left, setting up the game winning run.
 
The teams will conclude the series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.