CONWAY, Ark. – The Northwestern State softball team hits the road for a three-game series at Southland Conference foe Central Arkansas on Saturday beginning at one o'clock on Saturday at Farris Field.
 
The third and final game of the series is slated for Sunday at noon.
 
The programs last met in the conference tournament when NSU (17-17 overall, 6-7 SLC) came out victorious with a 5-2 win, propelling it to the championship game.
 
Leading the all-time series 11-9, the Lady Demons took last season's meeting two games to one in Natchitoches.
 
The Sugar Bears (17-25, 7-7) have dropped four games in a row, three of them to Southland leader McNeese State last weekend. Key conference series wins were taken from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Stephen F. Austin and a sweep of Southeastern Louisiana.
 
Northwestern State registers two series wins, one over Houston Baptist and another over the Islanders. The Lady Demons split with McNeese as weather prohibited the two teams from playing a deciding game, and suffered two losses to Sam Houston State last weekend.
 
Cassandra Barefield and leadoff Tara McKenney sit tied atop the NSU offense with .333 averages. McKenney has dished out a team-high 36 hits, including six doubles and 11 RBI, while Barefield has cranked out a team-best 11 homers in 32 hits, picking up 25 RBI. Barefield also leads the Southland and ranks 21^st in the nation in home runs per game (.32).
 
Calie Burke sits behind Barefield and McKenney with a .313 average and 26 hits, including five doubles and three homers.
 
From the circle, senior Kaylee Guidry (6-3) holds a 3.41 ERA, allowing 53 hits and 28 runs, 26 of them earned, in 53.1 innings. Freshman Shelby Sells (4-7) has seen the most time on the rubber, throwing 73 complete innings, giving up 77 hits and 52 runs, 41 of them earned, and striking out a team-high 62 batters.
 
Briana Whisenhunt registers a .370 average at the plate to lead UCA. Her 44 hits includes 10 doubles and three triples, to pick up 12 RBI. Sam Forrest follows behind at .340 with a team-high 48 hits and a tie for home run leader with Jessie Taylor at seven apiece. Taylor records a .277 average with 33 hits on the season.
 
Kylee Studioso (9-7) has seen the most time in the circle, throwing 95.2 innings and allowing 92 hits and 70 runs, 46 of them earned, while striking out 190 batters. Her 3.37 ERA ranks second on the team behind Peyton Jenkins (2-2) at 3.15.
 
Ciara Clampitt (3-11) has thrown 84.0 innings, giving up 94 hits and 69 runs, 54 of them earned, for a 4.50 ERA. 
 
Northwestern State hosts league newcomer Incarnate Word on Friday at 5:00, also a three-game series, and will welcome in-state rival Louisiana Tech on April 23 for a single game, supporting breast cancer awareness, starting at six o'clock. Both contests will be held at the Lady Demon Diamond.