TROY, Ala. – After receiving Southland Conference preseason favorite, the Northwestern State softball team kicks off the 2014 season Friday afternoon at the Troy Subway Invitational beginning at noon against North Florida, and will continue competition with four more games through Sunday, including No. 6 Alabama, at the Troy Softball Complex.
 
The Lady Demons square off with the Ospreys twice, the host Trojans Friday afternoon, Alabama on Saturday at 2:30 and round-out play Sunday at 12:00 against Middle Tennessee State.
 
Dating back to 2009, the Lady Demons dropped a pair of games to the Trojans in a mid-season break in conference play, falling to Troy 9-1 and 10-9, respectively. As for the Tide, NSU will meet with them for the fifth time in program history. Alabama walked has away with all four victories in the past, the last was a 12-2 score at the South Alabama Tournament in 2009.
 
Meetings with North Florida and the Blue Raiders are firsts for NSU.
 
Northwestern State returns the entire infield for the third season in a row, and have brought in a strong 10-member freshman class that will add a world of depth and talent to the already impressive squad, who claimed the program's fourth Southland Conference tournament championship and berth to the NCAA Tournament last season.
 
The Lady Demons led all Southland teams in preseason conference selections with six, including seniors Brianna Rodriguez, Cali Burke, Tara McKenney, Kaylee Guidry and juniors Brittany Virgoe and Cassandra Barefield.
 
North Florida claimed the Atlantic Sun regular season crown in 2013 and compiled a 42-15 overall record, 18-6 A-Sun. Junior pitcher Kaylie Wallace was tabbed conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year as the Ospreys were selected to finish fourth in conference play for 2014. The team returns seven starters and has brought in just two newcomers.
 
The host Trojans return five starters, including All-Sun Belt preseason selection Kacie McAllister who hit .313 last year and scored 31 runs as Troy concluded the season at 21-32 overall, 7-14 in the Sun Belt. The Trojans welcome 12 newcomers and begin their season Thursday afternoon against Auburn.
 
Alabama experienced a successful season in 2013 as it acted to defend its 2012 national championship. The Tide went as far as the Super Regionals, but could not surpass Tennessee, who later went on the Women's College World Series championship game, falling to national champion Oklahoma. Their efforts did not go unnoticed as they made their 15^th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, boasted four All-Americans and three All-SEC honorees.
 
The Tide returns eight starters and two pitchers after compiling a 45-15 overall record, 13-11 in the SEC.  
 
Middle Tennessee State, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, went 7-47 last season and returns seven starters, while welcoming eight newcomers. Junior Laura Dukes led the Blue Raiders with a .281 average, 36 hits, including seven home runs, and 19 RBI.
 
Northwestern State opens its home slate on Feb. 14 in a three game series with Mississippi Valley State, beginning with a single game at 5:00 on Friday, and a double-header scheduled for one o'clock on Saturday. Friday night's contest is deemed autograph night where fans have the opportunity to get their schedule poster signed by each of the Lady Demons.