NATCHITOCHES – Still clinging to hopes of making the Southland Conference Tournament, the Northwestern State softball team will host Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. at the Lady Demon Diamond Complex.

 

NSU (18-25, 6-10 SLC) will likely have to win its last four conference games to reach the 10-10 mark in SLC play and have a chance at cracking the top-six and qualifying for the tournament. SLU (10-31, 2-12 SLC) has already been eliminated from contention.

 

The Lady Demons are coming off a doubleheader split against Nicholls State on Friday. They have won five of their last seven contests, all by shutout including three one-hitters. NSU has also won three straight at home.

 

Kylie Roos has tossed three complete-game shutouts in her last four outings and leads the staff with seven wins and a 3.17 ERA. She had little margin for error in NSU's latest 1-0 win over the Colonels in the first game, and struck out five while not allowing a base runner to advance past second base.

 

Offensively, Tara McKenney leads the way with a .345 batting average and eight doubles. Samantha Roberts powers the lineup with a team-high seven homers and .547 slugging percentage. Roberts is also the only starter to not commit an error in the field and hoists a 1.000 fielding percentage.

 

SLU is led by sophomore second baseman Megan McCollum who tops the team with a .303 average. The Lions are still looking for their first conference road win this season.

 

The Lady Demons will finish conference play with a home series against first-place Texas State over the weekend. Game one will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, and the second at 1 p.m. on Saturday.