NATCHITOCHES -- Northwestern State coach Donald Pickett praised his team's improvement in its mental approach during the Lady Demons eight-game winning streak.
 
NSU's competitive mentality is much different from a run-rule loss at then-No. 10 Baylor in its season-opener to winning all six games in its own Lady Demon Classic.
 
That approach will be tested this weekend as NSU faces its second Big 12 opponent this season in Texas Tech (4-5) in a three-game series.
 
The first game is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday in Lubbock, Texas, followed by a noon doubleheader Saturday. Fans can follow on Twitter @NSUDemonsSB or live stats/paid video on nsudemons.com.
 
"Baylor was a great a team, but we lacked confidence in the opening game there," recalls Pickett, who became NSU's all-time winningest coach this past weekend and now has 249 career wins. "But hopefully we've learned from that, and I think we've showed what we've learned in that Baylor series.
 
"We've responded the way I've wanted us to, and it's interesting to see how we'll focus and respond with another three-game road series."
 
Eight of NSU's 10 batters with at least a .300 batting average (double-digit at-bats) are freshmen or sophomores.
 
Freshman second baseman Cayla Jones has been the most impressive statistically, winning the Southland Conference Hitter of the Week award this past week.
 
Jones (.520 average who leads the team with nine runs, 11 RBIs and two home runs) hit a scorching .625 this past week with nine RBIs and four stolen bases in eight games.
 
"I am a freshman and I know I have to prove a lot with nobody knowing me," Jones said. "But I trust my ability and I practice really hard all the time. I know I have to put it on the field, and that's what I try to do."
 
Pickett said he hasn't been surprised by the way Jones and other young players have swung the bat at times.
 
Fellow freshman E.C. Delafield has three extra-base hits in her eight total (.333 average) with four RBIs.
 
Jones and Delafield have often occupied the No. 3 and No. 4 spots in the lineup, attempting to generate power after a dynamic duo like Kellye Kincannon and Brittney Jones held those responsibilities throughout their careers.
 
"(Jones and Delafield) came in and definitely earned their spots in the fall," Pickett said. "They knew some of our players here, and that's helped with the transition.
 
"They bring confidence to our team and help everybody around them be better."
 
Senior Sidney Salmans (.333) and sophomore Hayley Barbazon (.300) set the tone as left-handed slappers who can find gaps for extra bases. They've hit three triples between them.
 
Other sophomores have filled voids as well, including third baseman Sidney Harris (.368 average, nine runs scored, eight RBIs) and right fielder Madelyn Matt (.583 average). Matt is making a run at a more permanent outfield spot with her recent play while three other sophomore outfielders in Julie Rawls (.333), Kaitlyn St. Clair (.304) and Elise Vincent (.300) are producing as well.
 
The offense will propel itself against a Texas Tech staff whose two main starters Kassidy Scott and Cheyene Powell have allowed 24 runs in 36 2-3 innings (16 earned runs).
 
The Red Raiders, who return two position starters and three pitchers from a 19-36 team (4-14 in Big 12), are led by Jessica Hartwell (.455, nine RBIs) and Michaela Cochran (.353) offensively.
 
NSU isn't foreign to beating Power Five members. The Lady Demons have three wins over such opponents in the past two seasons, run-ruling Maryland in 2017 while topping Oklahoma State (NCAA Tournament participant) and Mississippi State (receiving Top 25 votes at the time) in 2016.
 
Texas Tech pitching coach Amanda Locke assisted Pickett at NSU from 2013-14, helping the Lady Demons to two Southland Conference Tournament titles and NCAA appearances.