Northwestern State softball wins game despite getting no-hit, thanks to 5 walks, HBP and error in first inning

As Northwestern State showed Saturday, no one said you needed a hit to win a softball game.

Through seven innings, the Demons held themselves hitless, going 0-for-19 with one strikeout, behind Missouri State pitchers Briley Brewster and Emily Korando. At the end of the game, they celebrated one of the strangest 5-3 wins you’ll ever see.

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All five of NSU’s runs were scored in the first inning. Brewster took the mound but couldn’t find the strike zone, walking the first three batters and throwing out the fourth pitch. She was then lifted by Korando, who opened the scoring for the Bears at home on a fielder’s choice, but then walked two batters and scored again on an error.

NSU’s leading hitter, JT Smith, led off the bases and explained after the game that having Brewster hit the strike zone was the team’s plan from the beginning:

“We saw on tape earlier in the day that she was going to have some control issues if she wasn’t there, and as a leadoff it’s important to see some pitches. Luckily, I didn’t have to swing the bat. She gave me four pitches. I was happy to take four pitches and then [No. 2 hitter Sophia Livers] behind me did the same thing and then [No. 3 hitter Sister Arnold] and [No. 4 hitter Brynn Daniel]. So I think that’s contagious, knowing what the person in front of you did and not trying to do too much in the situation. “

Northwestern State held just four baserunners the rest of the way, including three bases-loaded runs and a single. After struggling in the first inning, Corradis pitched a full six innings, while NSU’s Mattison Buster pitched seven complete innings, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned).

Finally, she got some help, with right fielder Mckenna Rinewalt catching the ball. If the ball had hit the ground, the game would have likely been a tie game with a tying run at second and even third base.