NATCHITOCHES – After claiming the program's fourth conference tournament championship and berth to the NCAA tournament, the 2013 Northwestern State softball team ends the season with a lot to be proud of.
 
The Lady Demons (40-15, 18-7) finished the regular season as the Southland Conference runner-up, noting the best finish the program has had in 10+ years, and four spots higher than the pre-season polls predicted.
 
“Despite having some ups and downs at times, the team was consistent all season long,” said fifth year head coach Donald Pickett. “We had a really small number this year so a lot of them played with injuries and just pushed through, which showed a lot of heart and dedication to me.”
 
On top of earning the highest regular season finish (2^nd), tournament seeding (2^nd) and most Southland wins (18) since 2002, Northwestern State registered the highest winning percentage (.727) ever, longest win streak (11) since the 1998 season, fewest losses (15) since 1983 and the best 20-game start (16-4) since 1990.
 
The Lady Demons claimed series victories over every SLC member besides McNeese State when NSU opened conference play with two losses to the Cowgirls.
 
NSU also had a phenomenal year individually with five athletes earning spots in the record books.
 
Junior first baseman Brianna Rodriguez earned First Team All-Southland Conference honors after leading the team and the league with 20 doubles, and ranks second in the program's individual season record book. The Rowlett, Texas, native also led the team with 46 RBI, another season record, ranking third, just ahead of sophomore Cassandra Barefield with 45 this season.
 
Rodriguez also made her way into the career book with 999 putouts in her three seasons as a Lady Demon, ranking third all-time.
 
Rodriguez hit safely in 12 straight games this year, beginning on 2/20 at Alcorn and ending on 3/5 at Southern.
 
Second Team All Southland selection Kylie Roos finished the season 17-5 in the circle, bringing her total career wins to 50, ranking fifth all-time at NSU. Her .772 winning percentage in 2013 ranks third in the season ledger, and her eight shutouts sits fifth.
 
The utility player finished her career fourth in strikeouts (465) and innings pitched (545.2).
 
Tara McKenney earned Second Team All-SLC for the second year in a row as she led the team with a .363 average and made marks in both record books at NSU. In the individual season book, McKenney ranks second in triples (7) and tied for fifth in runs scored (41). Overall, the junior has collected 11 triples, sitting fourth in the all-time rankings.
 
McKenney recorded the longest hitting streak for the Lady Demons, putting the ball into play 13 games in a row beginning on 4/14 at Stephen F. Austin and ending 5/11 against Sam Houston State.
 
Barefield earned her first All-Conference selection when she was earned second team honors, finishing the season with 14 homers and a .638 slugging percentage, noted third and fourth in the individual season book, respectively.
 
The Houston, Texas, native currently sits tied for fifth in career homers (22).
 
Catcher Cheyenne DelaGarza was selected All-Conference Honorable Mention, finishing the season with a .237 average and 31 hits, including three home runs. The junior recorded a .993 fielding percentage, putting her tied for fifth in the season ledger.
 
Brittany Virgoe recorded a 12-game hitting streak at one point, landing her a spot on the All-SLC Second Team.
 
“I'm really proud of this team and especially of the seniors,” said Pickett. “Performing the way we did this year is a good way to go out for them. This entire team brought life back into our program, and will be remembered for their resiliency, their chemistry and their fight for not giving up no matter how bad the situation was.”
 
The Lady Demons finished the 2013 season with a pair of losses in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional Tournament hosted by LSU this past weekend, falling to eventual tournament winner Louisiana-Lafayette and Central Connecticut State.