NATCHITOCHES – After six consecutive conference road games, the Northwestern State softball team will return home for a series against Stephen F. Austin at the Lady Demon Diamond Complex.

 

Game one will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday and the second will start at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Dixie Youth softball players will have free admission on Saturday, and the contest will be followed with an autograph signing session from the Lady Demon players.

 

NSU (13-23, 2-8 SLC) had the week off after its mid-week contest against La. Tech on Wednesday was postponed. The Lady Demons last played on Sunday when they dropped a pair at Sam Houston State.

 

Tara McKenney and Samantha Roberts both enter the weekend on five-game hitting streaks. McKenney is tied for the team-high in batting average with Cali Burke at .350, while Roberts ranks second in the SLC with seven homers and a .546 slugging.

 

Roberts has knocked three homers in the last four games, including a grand slam against Texas-San Antonio on Saturday to keep NSU in the game.

 

SFA (9-23, 2-6 SLC) is coming off a tough mid-week series against No. 22 Baylor. Sophomore Elizabeth Arana leads the lineup in numerous offensive categories, including hits (26), doubles (8), RBI (14), homers (3), on-base percentage (.449) and slugging (.542).

 

The Lady Demons will also be home on Tuesday at 6 p.m. when they host La. Tech in a non-conference affair.