NATCHITOCHES – With two comeback wins in its wake, Northwestern State softball heads into a crucial series with rival Southeastern Louisiana this weekend.

NSU (14-16, 6-3 Southland Conference) is in a five-way tie for third place and will host an SLU (19-11, 7-2 SLC) squad that is sitting alone in second place.

The series begins with a Friday doubleheader at 4 p.m. with Saturday's finale at noon. Friday tickets are just $5.

"Southeastern likes to run a lot and put pressure on our infield, but McNeese and Louisiana Tech were like that, too, so it's something we've adjusted to in the last week," said NSU coach Donald Pickett. "Whether SLU bunts or hits in the infield, we have to make plays defensively and keep them from taking bases.

"We got stronger as the weekend went along (at McNeese), but we can't give SLU extra outs, and we have to be ready to make those defensive plays. (Freshman catcher) Alexis Perry threw a runner out late in the third game, so I think it's something we're getting better at."

The Lady Demons created momentum after rallying to beat McNeese in the series finale Saturday and erasing a late Grambling lead Tuesday.

Trailing 3-2 at Grambling, NSU scored five runs in the sixth inning to secure the victory.

NSU wiped out a 3-0 McNeese lead to win 4-3 in eight innings, taking the finale to avoid a sweep.

SLU is on a six-game winning streak since dropping a series opener to Houston Baptist. The Lady Lions took the last two from HBU, topped Alcorn State in a midweek contest and swept Texas A&M-Corpus Christi by a combined 23-3 this past weekend.

The Lady Lions won their first SLC series by taking two of three from Stephen F. Austin, one of the teams in a log jam for third place.

NSU started conference play by winning two of three at Sam Houston State (6-3 SLC), another third-place team. The Lady Demons swept Abilene Christian (1-8 SLC) and took one of three from McNeese (6-3 SLC).

While the real importance of the series is potential leverage gained in the SLC standings, the NSU-SLU rivalry added a little extra incentive.

The Cypress Trophy will make its first appearance this season, awarded to the winner each year.

SLU alumni Cameron Barr and Dickie Whitson created the idea, adding a female sport to rivalry trophies that already exist between SLU-Nicholls (River Bell Classic) football and SLU-New Orleans (Pontchartrain Bowl) baseball.

The trophy, made out of cypress wood, and the series were named after the Louisiana state tree (bald cypress).

NSU leads the all-time series 79-38, but SLU won all four meetings this past season.

The Lady Lions swept NSU in Natchitoches after taking the lead in the final inning in two of its wins before eliminating the Lady Demons from the SLC Tournament.

Junior centerfielder Hayley Barbazon said the trophy adds excitement to an already notable rivalry.

"(SLU) is a big rival, and they are a good team," Barbazon said. "I have friends on that team, and we want to come back and beat them this year.

"The trophy will be something to brag about, and winning the series will be huge for us."

Barbazon has transitioned into a leadoff hitter who has hit in the No. 2 hole the past two games. The Belle Chasse native is batting .277 with 20 runs scored, 11 RBIs and team-high five doubles.

"She's been doing really well in the leadoff role," Pickett said. "She had three bang-bang plays go against her (at McNeese), or she would have had another great weekend.

"We're comfortable with her near the top of the lineup and in center field, and I'm proud of how she's stepped up in that role this season."

With both teams seemingly on track to make the eight-team SLC Tournament, NSU is jockeying for its highest possible seed with the tournament coming to Lady Demon Diamond this season.

One factor in SLU's success in 2018 was pitching coach Brooke Boening, who returned to the NSU staff this season after playing under Pickett and serving as a volunteer assistant in 2015.

NSU's staff ERA of 3.08 is its lowest since Boening was last on staff, a year in which then-freshman Mikayla Brown won the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year.