JACKSON, Miss. – Coming off a 1-1 split against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the opening series of conference play, the Northwestern State softball team will travel to Jackson State for a non-conference affair on Tuesday at 4.

Brooke Boening did not allow a run last week for NSU (11-15, 1-1 SLC) in three appearances and 10.2 innings pitched. She threw a complete-game shutout against defending Southland Conference champions TAMUCC and earned the win by allowing just two hits on Friday.

Boening also tossed 1.2 perfect innings of relief on Saturday against the Islanders, and earned Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week Honorable Mention on Monday. She currently leads the team with a 2.62 ERA.

Blair Beard enters the game on a seven-game hitting streak and hits at a .308 average, while Tara McKenney is on a five-game hitting streak and leads the team with a .349 average. McKenney scored NSU's only run on Saturday on a sacrifice fly, after popping a towering double to leftfield to leadoff the fourth inning.

Crushing her first home run of the season in the 3-0 win on Friday, Kylie Roos has reached base safely in all of the last four games. Her homer came in a critical point in the game when the Lady Demons were clinging to a one-run lead in the fifth inning.

Early leads have not failed NSU this season, as the team is 9-0 when leading after five innings. The bats have played a big role on those games, as the Lady Demons are 10-1 when they outhit opponents.

NSU will look to avenge a 4-1 defeat to JSU (15-14, 0-0 SWAC) on Feb. 24 in the first game of the Arkansas Fastpitch Invitational. Cassandra Barefield knocked two hits in the game, while Candice Biggs registered a RBI single.

Second baseman Wendi Reed leads the Tigers with a .349 average, 21 RBI and 24 stolen bases. Breea Jamerson, who earned the win against the Lady Demons in the last meeting, has a 3.92 ERA and leads the team with eight wins and 87.1 innings pitched.

NSU will resume conference action with a two-game series at home against McNeese State with games on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Lady Demon Diamond Complex.