NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State solidified its position Saturday in the Southland Conference Tournament by splitting with Houston Baptist and taking the series.

The Lady Demons (26-21, 13-11 SLC) haven't mathematically clinched a spot in the postseason yet with a 6-5 win in Saturday's first game, but NSU needs just one more win or a Sam Houston State loss to guarantee its spot in NSU's second straight conference tournament.

NSU had a chance to lock up a slot in the series finale, but Houston Baptist pieced together a 6-1 win to make the Lady Demons wait until the final weekend at Central Arkansas (26-23, 14-10 SLC).

The Lady Demons are in a tie for sixth place with Abilene Christian (21-23, 13-11 SLC), with whom NSU owns the tiebreaker after taking two games in Abilene.

NSU has a three-game lead against ninth-place SHSU (19-31, 10-14 SLC) as nine teams are fighting for eight tournament spots.

Eighth-place Lamar (27-24, 11-13 SLC) sits two games back but NSU also owns the tiebreaker, meaning Lamar will need three wins at first-place Nicholls if the Cardinals hope to jump NSU in the standings.

The Lady Demons will be fighting with UCA for the fifth seed as a top-four seed is out of reach with No. 4 McNeese having a three-game lead and the tie-breaker.

The bottom four seeds will play in a single-elimination game to advance to the double-elimination portion of the bracket.
 
NSU 6, HBU 5

Early offense and timely relief pitching aided in a series-clinching win in the first game Saturday.

The Lady Demons had one of their patented big innings by scoring three runs in the second inning for a 4-1 lead.

Cayla Jones plated two runs with a single, scoring Hayley Barbazon (2-for-3) and Toni Hebert (2-for-3), who singled.

Julie Rawls followed with a single RBI to score Jones.

Starter Mikayla Brown ran into trouble in the third inning, walking three consecutive batters to load the bases with no outs.

Reliever E.C. Delafield limited the damage, allowing two runs to score on a single and an error before two strikeouts ended the threat with NSU up 4-3.

Freshman Codi Vernace, who started her second straight game in the designated player slot, hit her second home run of her career in the third inning to increase NSU's edge to 5-3.

But Houston Baptist didn't go away, tying the game 5-5 with two runs in the fifth inning.

After a Kassie James (3-for-3) double, Brooke Bushman hit a two-run home run, the first of the season.

NSU's decisive run came in the sixth inning when Hebert drove in Barbazon, who knocked a double into the gap.

Delafield (4-3) held on for the win with the help of Micaela Bouvier, who recorded the final two outs for her second save.

HBU's James hit her second double of the game with one out in the seventh inning, and the Huskies put runners on the corners after a Bushman single.

But Bouvier induced a fly out to protect NSU's one-run lead.

Delafield gave up two runs on five hits in four innings with five strikeouts. Brown allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and five walks in 2 1/3 innings of a no-decision start.

HBU 6, NSU 1

HBU starter Jessica Patak posted her second solid outing against the Lady Demons, allowing just one run on four hits in the win.

Patak (6-17) gave up just seven hits in her starts, but two of NSU's three hits Friday were home runs as the Lady Demons took the opener 5-2.

But the Huskies brought their big bats in the finale as home runs by Demi Janak and Nicole Shedd (2-for-4, 4 RBIs) provided the bulk of the offense.

Janak hit a solo home run in the first inning before HBU stretched its lead to 5-0 with four runs in the third inning.

A Kassie James RBI single (2-for-3) precluded a Shedd three-run home run off Bouvier.

Bouvier (13-9) allowed six runs on hits and three walks in five innings.

NSU scored its only run in the fourth inning when Codi Vernace doubled in Julie Rawls, who walked.

But HBU got the run back with a Shedd RBI double in the next inning.

NSU couldn't piece together much else against Patak as the Lady Demons stranded five of its six base runners.
 
Senior Day

Chants for "Miss Salmans" could be heard as senior Sidney Salmans was honored on Senior Day along with teammate Micaela Bouvier.

Salmans is a senior education major and is completing her student teaching while playing her final softball season.

That season effectively ended two weeks ago when she broke her thumb in practice, but Salmans was all smiles as she took pictures with her pupils along with family and friends.

"It's a lot of fun, and I've grown to love them so much throughout the year, so it was awesome to see them in the stands," Salmans said. "It's been hard, lost some sleep and work around my schedule to teach and practice.

"I've put in as much extra work as I could, and it was great to see that pay off."

Salmans was selected to the Southland Conference All-Academic Team as a junior and has a good chance at postseason honors after batting .394 in SLC play.

Bouvier increased her career win total to 42 with one weekend to play. She was an All-SLC first teamer as a redshirt freshman and will be in consideration for all-conference honors again this season.