NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State softball team continues Southland Conference play on Saturday as they host Nicholls State beginning at one o'clock.

The Lady Demons (18-5, 0-2) split games with the Colonels (9-14, 1-2) in the 2012 season.

“We're glad to be at home this week,” said head coach Donald Pickett. “This should be a competitive weekend for us.”

Sophomore Brittany Virgoe stands fifth in batting average in the conference, and leads NSU from the plate batting .405 with 32 hits, 21 RBI and five home runs.

Junior Brianna Rodriguez sits just two spots behind Virgoe in the SLC with a .400 average,  30 hits, 22 RBI and three homers. Rodriguez leads the SLC with 13 doubles.

Fellow Junior Tara McKenney leads the team and the conference with four triples, while hitting .386 on 32 hits and 14 RBI.

Kylie Roos (6-1) stands strong in the circle throwing five complete games. The senior utility player has thrown 51.1 innings allowing 11 runs and striking out 62 for a 1.36 ERA.

The Lady Demons fell to McNeese State 1-0 and 5-2 last Saturday in the opening weekend of conference play.

The Colonels fell to #13 LSU  8-0 (5 inn.) on Wednesday.

Leah Andrus leads from the plate with a .314 average, collecting 22 hits and 12 RBI.

Ashton Bennett (6-6) has thrown 71.0 innings in the circle, allowing 73 hits and striking out 40. With 38 runs allowed, Bennett has collected a 2.96 ERA.

The Lady Demons host Jackson State on Wednesday at five o'clock at the Lady Demon Diamond.