CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Northwestern State began it's lengthy 11-game road stretch in a way that has become quite familiar even just five games into the season.

The Lady Demons (4-1) secured their third one-run victory of the season, in less than a week of action, on Wednesday with a 3-2 win at Louisiana Tech. It took NSU 29 games a year ago to reach that same number.

The first of those one-run victories from a season ago came against one of the opponents the Lady Demons will see this weekend, SIU-Edwardsville, as they take part in the Chattanooga Challenge hosted by UT Chattanooga. They'll also see the same Chattanooga team they beat 1-0 to open this season a week ago in Natchitoches along with Tennessee Tech, Indiana State and Purdue-Fort Wayne.

NSU plays it's first two games of the weekend against Tennessee Tech (2 p.m.) and Chattanooga (4:30 p.m.) on Friday afternoon.

There will be no live video feed of the games this weekend, but live stat links will be available at www.nsudemons.com.

"We're going to be playing four quality teams once again," head coach Donald Pickett said. "We're familiar with some of them and a couple we're not but we'll get a handle on that with scouting.
"Our main thing is just to focus on what we're doing right now early in the year. Trying to take what we're doing in practice into the games and get consistent with those things. If we can do that hopefully it will be a great trip and come back and work some more next week."

It's no secret as to why the Lady Demons have had the early success they have in tight games – pitching. Against Tech, freshman Sage Hoover picked up her second win of the season going 5.0 innings allowing just one run on three hits with nine strikeouts. Kenzie Seely finished the final two innings without allowing a hit and sitting down three for her first save of the year. She and Hoover now each have a win as a starter and a save as a reliever this year.

One of the constants for the staff so far has been transfer catcher Tristin Court behind the plate, who quickly developed relationships with most of the staff and reunited with another.

"I'm pretty close with all of the pitchers," Court said. "I think I'm comfortable enough to tell them what they need to work on, and they appreciate that. If something's not working, I can tell them straight up and I've always got their back.

"I've known Kenzie since I was 10 so it's always fun catching her. It's a little strange playing with her again but I'm glad that we have that chance again at NSU."

Seely is expected to make her second start of the season this weekend and will look for support from Court, not only behind the plate but in the batter's box as well.

The offense has been the focal point for Pickett since the opening weekend and already showed signs of growth in the win against Tech. NSU manufactured their first run with by moving runners over and getting a sacrifice fly and also capitalized on an opportunity with an extra-base hit with two outs.

Laney Roos drove in all three runs in the win, but six different players got into the hit column, with Taylor Williams and Bailie Ragsdale each getting two, for a total of eight in the game, matching the most so far this year.

Runs not only win games, but in NSU's case they add even more confidence to an already determined pitching staff.

"I think our energy level has to stay up and keep the defense and offense up," pitcher Maggie Darr said about keeping the momentum into this weekend. "I thought our hitters did well and it's a relief for a pitcher when they're able to get those runs and give you a cushion if you're not having your best day. If we can have that energy in our hitting, I think we're going to do great this weekend."