NATCHITOCHES — The Northwestern State softball team hosts Louisiana Tech on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at the Lady Demon Diamond. The game concludes a home-and-home between the Lady Demons (19-16 overall, 13-8 Southland Conference) and the Lady Techsters (16-24, 5-5 Conference USA). 

On the surface, it's a non-conference affair with a team from just up the road. In the midst of Southland Conference play, Tuesday's contest won't have any impact on the Lady Demons' fight for a top four seed. 

But that doesn't diminish its importance.

"The tournament starts now," head coach Donald Pickett said. "We've got to create that mentality to prove ourselves every game. We have to come out here to play to win, and to continue to do what we need to do to be the best team moving forward."

NSU showed glimpses of that this past weekend against Sam Houston. The Lady Demons walked-off twice Saturday to take the series, and will look to carry that momentum into its game against the Lady Techsters.

"Bottom line is you have to play the game the right way each and every day, no matter who we are playing," Pickett said. "We are trying to find ourselves, be consistent in what we can do. We showed some good flashes this weekend."

Junior E.C. Delafield had the first walk-off hit, as she reached on an error that scored freshman pinch runner Kacee Mertens. Delafield boasts a .308 batting average with seven doubles, two home runs and 19 RBIs. 

She also produces in the circle, logging a team-high 80 innings pitched. Delafield owns an 8-2 record with seven complete games and 66 strikeouts. 

Freshman infielder Keely DuBois laid claim to the other walk-off hit — her's being a three-run home run. She has a team-high .359 batting average with two doubles, a homer and 13 RBIs. 

Freshman infielder Kat Marshall is the other Lady Demon hitting north of .300. She's batting .314 with seven doubles, a triple and 12 RBIs. 

Junior Jensen Howell represents NSU's other starting pitcher. She started two games against Sam Houston and nearly threw 250 pitches in total.

Howell is 6-8 with seven complete games — one of those occurring Saturday in a nine-inning affair against the Bearkats. She has tossed 71.1 innings, owns an ERA of 4.12 with a team-high 78 strikeouts. 

Louisiana Tech has a similar two-headed attack in the circle. Bre Hernandez is 6-9 with a 3.84 ERA in 96.2 innings pitched, while Audrey Pickett is 5-10 with a 4.08 ERA in 96 innings tossed. 

Madie Green paces the Lady Techsters at the plate. She's hitting .287 with six doubles, two triples, four home runs and a team-best 17 RBIs. 

Louisiana Tech took the first meeting between the two, 3-0, back on March 30. The Lady Techsters also own the edge in the all-time series, 57-48.

The game will be a $2 Tuesday. Tickets will be $2, as well as popcorn, hot dogs, select Michelob Ultras and Demon swag. 

"This game is definitely a big deal," Pickett said. "It's a big deal to a lot of people around here." 

Following the Louisiana Tech game, Northwestern State travels to McNeese for a three-game set beginning Friday.