THIBODAUX — The Northwestern State softball team is looking forward to its opportunity at Nicholls this weekend. The Lady Demons didn't perform how they wanted to at the Wooo Pig Classic this past weekend and the chance to return to action this weekend is a welcomed one. 

"It's frustrating to have a weekend like that when we know what we can be," head coach Donald Pickett said. "Those things happen, and they happen for a reason. We have to make sure we use that and learn from it and do the things we need to and move along at the pace that we want to move and go out there this weekend and have a solid one." 

NSU will begin its three-game set at Nicholls with a doubleheader Friday at 5 p.m. The series concludes Saturday with one game at 12 p.m. 

The Lady Demons enter the series with a 6-7 overall record. The Colonels lay claim to a 6-5 record. 

While NSU didn't perform up to its standards over the weekend, it did make strides throughout the tournament. The Lady Demons took their lumps early but during the final day were tied with Big 12 foe Kansas going into the sixth inning before falling 6-2. 

It's that stick-to-itiveness that has Pickett confident in his team's ability to bounce back. 

"I'm real proud of girls for fighting, and I think we learned a lot," Pickett said. "We had a lot of opportunities to score runs, we just need to be more consistent when we get those opportunities to cash in on them."

Sophomore catcher Alexis Perry rounded into form offensively. She registered four hits, half of which were home runs, and five RBIs. 

The lineup shifted quite a bit over the weekend, as Pickett attempts to find the best combination moving forward. Whatever he chooses, rest assured, the Lady Demons have production up and down the lineup. 

Senior outfielder Kaitlyn St. Clair — who's hitting a team-best .435 — recorded her second home run of the season, joining junior Jensen Howell who already had a couple. Both Howell and Perry lead the Lady Demons with eight RBIs. Junior second baseman Cayla Jones isn't far behind having plated seven runs, while four different players have three RBIs. 

Howell has made a team-high six starts and eight appearances this season. She owns a 3-3 record in 25.2 innings pitched with a 5.73 ERA and 28 strikeouts. 

Sophomore Bronte Rhoden isn't far behind with three starts and five appearances in 24 innings tossed. She is 1-2 with a 3.21 ERA and 22 strikeouts. 

Emily Danehower leads the Colonels in the circle with four starts and six appearances. She has twirled 25 innings pitched and is 3-1 with a 1.96 ERA and nine strikeouts. 

Ashlyn Reavis paces Nicholls at the plate with a .516 average that comes equipped with seven RBIs. Kennedy Hebert and Melise Gossen round out the Colonels hitting north of .300 with .364 and .303 averages, respectively.

"Nicholls has some great pitchers down there that are proven," Pickett said. "They have some experienced bats, which is a big plus for them. But I think we got that also."

Nicholls leads the all-time series 83-56-1. The Colonels have won the last seven games between the two and nine in row in Thibodaux. 

Friday marks the Southland Conference opener for both schools, and Pickett knows that comes with great importance and a clean slate. 

"I think our kids know conference play is a new season," Pickett said. "We are stating 0-0. We got a tough place to play, but it's great opportunity and a great challenge to go down there and bounce back, and get the conference season off on the right foot."