MONROE -- Northwestern State will have a chance to avenge one of its softball losses Wednesday when the Lady Demons return to ULM for a 6 p.m. game.
 
NSU (5-4-1) lost a four-run lead to ULM in an 8-5 loss on Feb. 12 in the finale of the ULM Mardi Gras Classic.
 
Pitching depth has been a major question in the preseason and first weekend, but sophomore Katelyn Boles might have provided some answers after the best weekend of her career.
 
Boles tossed her first career complete game in a 4-2 win against Florida International after scrapping with then-No. 1 Florida. The Pollok, Texas, native allowed three runs in the first five innings before being credited with three sixth-inning runs.
 
"(Against FIU), O was working a screw ball and curve ball on and off the plate, and I was really confident because my defense was playing so well behind me," Boles said. "FIU has really good hitters who were aggressive, and my coaches calmed me down after the first few innings. I was running out of gas by the sixth inning because you have to be dialed in every pitch against college hitters.
 
"With Florida, it rattles you a little bit to play a No. 1 team. We put them on a pedestal, but you have to remember that they are just players like we are. After the first inning, I just attacked them like I normally would other hitters. When we scored three (fifth-inning) runs, it was like, 'Oh my gosh, we're holding down the No. 1 team in the nation. It gives me and the team confidence knowing what level we can play at."
 
If Boles is tapped to pitch as a starter or reliever Wednesday, she'll face a Warhawks' squad that scored five runs when she was in the circle.
 
Boles entered the game with the bases loaded, so the first three runs were credited to starter Mikayla Brown. But Boles allowed two runs of her in two-thirds of an inning.
 
But a more confident Boles, who pitched just 11 1-3 innings after battling a knee injury as a freshman, will be available if called upon.
 
Junior pitcher Micaela Bouvier could be available Wednesday before pitching innings in this weekend's Frost Classic in Chattanooga.
 
Bouvier, a 2015 All-Southland Conference performer, injured her shoulder this offseason. She pitched a scoreless inning to begin the Florida A&M game in her season debut.
 
"I was really proud of some of our pitching -- (Boles) did a really good job and continues to grow her confidence every weekend," said NSU coach Donald Pickett. "We have confidence in all of our kids as long as their approaches are what we want them to be. (Boles) had those approaches this past weekend, and she was doing what she needed to do be successful.
 
"It was good to see Bouvier back out there and to see Brown get some more innings under her belt. Bouvier looked good in her one inning and probably could have went longer, but we want to bring her back slowly. We'll get some innings out of her this week, and hopefully we'll continue to build and get more innings out of her in the future."
 
ULM (7-4) continued its success since going 4-1 at its Mardi Gras Classic, including knocking off reigning Southland Conference champion McNeese on the road Feb. 15.
 
Cheyenne Lyon (2-for-4 with four RBIs against NSU) is tied for the team lead with eight RBIs.
 
ULM is led in the circle by pitcher Melanie Coyne, who's posted a 4-2 record with a 0.64 ERA in six starts.