GRAMBLING – After putting together another 3-2 weekend at the Memphis Blues City Classic, the Northwestern State softball will have one more test before opening Southland Conference play.

The Lady Demons (11-7) travel to Grambling on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. before NSU returns home to open league play with defending champion Sam Houston State this weekend.

GSU (3-10) battled the Lady Demons in both contests this past season as NSU took victories of 7-3 and 2-1.

"We hope to come out and bring some energy in the midweek before we start conference play," said NSU coach Donald Pickett. "We need to play as many games as possible before conference play, and Grambling is building a solid program and they're good competition.

"We're honing in on what we're doing and trying to get better every day."

Freshman Kat Marshall certainly has gotten better throughout this season. The first baseman posted her second straight weekend with seven RBIs and leads the team with 18 RBIs, all of which have come in the last 12 games.

Marshall has been the foundation of the middle of the lineup, but the top and bottom have produced consistently.

Senior Elise Vincent leads the team with 15 runs scored at the top of the lineup. Vincent has also batted in 10 runs, which has almost already eclipsed her career high.

Vincent has had RBI opportunities in part because No. 9 hole hitter Hayley Barbazon has had a career year so far.

Barbazon leads the team with a .457 batting average and 17 RBIs, which ranks second.

In the circle, sophomore Bronte Rhoden (3-2) earned a pair of wins against Western Illinois and Northern Illinois to headline a pitching staff that held four of NSU's five opponents this past weekend to three runs or less.

NSU held Grambling to three or fewer runs in both wins this past season, but the Lady Tigers threatened in both contests.

GSU led 3-2 and loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth inning, but pitcher Samantha Guile entered and recorded three outs without the Lady Tigers adding to their lead.

NSU scored five straight runs to escape Grambling with a win.

Guile also picked up a save in NSU's 2-1 win, throwing four inning with just one run allowed.

GSU is 0-2 against SLC members this season, falling to Southeastern 10-2 and Incarnate Word 2-1.