HUNTSVILLE ? Demon right-hander Kelee Grimes limited Sam Houston State to two hits and only one run in the first inning as Northwestern State avoided a Southland Conference softball series sweep by winning the third game of the weekend 4-1 Sunday at Bearkat Softball Complex.

All the Demons' runs came in the fourth inning as Northwestern State upped its season mark to 3-18 and picked up its first Southland win in nine attempts.

Center fielder Randi Stuard and third baseman Samantha Roberts each had RBI singles and left fielder Stormi Stech blasted an RBI triple to right center. The fourth run scored on an error. Stech's triple was the first three-bagger of the year for the Demons.

Sam Houston jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning as shortstop Hailey Wiginton singled, advanced to third on an error then scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by second basemanWhitney Wilson.

Wiginton's single proved to be the only hit by the Bearkats for the next four innings as Demon right hander Kelee Grimes did not allow a Sam Houston runner past second base the rest of the way. Morgan Mikulin picked up the Kats' second hit in the bottom of the sixth.

In the pitching circle, Mikulin ( 4-4) took the loss as she gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out five.

Sam Houston State takes off for spring break now. The Bearkat softball team will return to action with a three-game weekend series at McNeese State in Lake Charles, LA Saturday and Sunday March 21-22.