YOUNGSVILLE – Consistency is the buzzword as Northwestern State softball will play its third of four nonconference tournaments this weekend at the first annual Mardi Gras Mambo at the Youngsville Sports Complex.
 
NSU (4-4) is coming off a 2-2 weekend at the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission's Lady Demon Classic, beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff twice and falling to Murray State twice.
 
The Lady Demons are slated for five games this weekend, starting Friday with Houston Baptist (7-3) at 3 p.m. and Detroit Mercy (0-8) at 5 p.m. followed by a Saturday showing against Middle Tennessee (5-7) at 3 p.m. and a pair of Sunday games against Jacksonville (7-4) at 10 a.m. and Mississippi Valley State (1-3) at 2 p.m.
 
A total of 13 teams are involved, including seven Southland Conference teams, in an event hosted by Southeastern, the league and the town of Youngsville.
 
"(SLU coach Rick Fremin) and Youngsville have put in a lot of time so all these teams can come together and play different opponents we normally don't get to play," said NSU coach Donald Pickett. "There'll be different styles and challenges, and that'll be great for everyone.
 
"It's a very competitive field, but we're looking to see consistency in what we're doing. It's easy to get caught up in everybody else, but the main thing is I want to see us bounce back from this weekend and see how we'll respond."
 
Fans traveling to the event will need to be aware of road closures for the Mardi Gras parade on Saturday. Fans coming from the north will need to travel on Ambassador Caffery Parkway, turning south on Evangeline Thruway and traveling west on Ailler Road to Chemin Metairie Parkway. That route will wrap you around the complex to Savoy Road (traveling east), where you'll head south on Détente and into the complex.
 
The team will be riding in the Youngsville Mardi Gras parade on Saturday at 11 a.m. before playing the doubleheader.
 
NSU had varying offensive results in its home tournament weekend. The Lady Demons scored a combined 33 runs in wins against UAPB, including breaking a single-game program record with 23 runs in a 23-4 victory.
 
The Lady Demons scored 18 runs in one inning with the help of 15 walks. UAPB walked 22 batters and hit another two in the loss.
 
NSU was shut out in a pair of losses against Murray State, combining for just four hits. That's after an opening weekend when the Lady Demons scored 30 runs in their first four games.
 
Senior Hayley Barbazon has been model of consistency in the No. 9 hole, leading the team in batting average (.556), hits (10) and RBIs (10). Fellow senior outfielder Kaitlyn St. Clair has also been steady with a .417 average, climbing into the No. 3 spot this past weekend.
 
"Hayley brings speed as one of the fastest kids we have, and she can make things happen," Pickett said. "We can be more aggressive with hit and runs and putting people in motion.
 
"She's worked really hard on her short game to add another dimension and put pressure on defenses. It's great to see seniors doing great things."
 
NSU has had solid pitching outings this season, getting quality starts in six of eight games this season.
 
Junior transfer Jensen Howell (2-2) has led the way with a 1.69 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 20 2-3 innings.
 
Junior E.C. Delafield's pitching role is expected to expand after the Stonewall native is healthy after battling the flu early this season.
 
"We've gotten quality starts from Howell, (Bronte Rhoden) and (Samantha Guile) this season, and I'm sure they'd tell you they aren't as sharp as they'd like to be with things like command," Pickett said. "But they've given us a chance in every start they've had.
 
"I'm looking forward to seeing Delafield back out there and seeing what kind of weekend she'll have. She's back at 100 percent, and we need her as part of this staff."