NATCHITOCHES – A similar opponent and some familiar faces mark the start of Southland Conference play for Northwestern State this weekend.
 
The Demons (11-12) host Nicholls (12-10) in a three-game series beginning with a Saturday doubleheader at 2 p.m. at the Demon Diamond on ESPN+. The series finale is set for a 12 p.m. start on Sunday, also airing on ESPN+.
 
The conference-opening series will also serve as an alumni weekend for former NSU softball players that will be recognized throughout the games and meet with the 2024 edition of the NSU softball team.
 
"This is their program," first-year head coach Lacy Prejean said. "I'm here now and helping guide that, but this is their program. They've been here and they've built it and I want to honor them and want them to want to come back. 
 
"I'm excited they're coming back with their families and having the chance to meet our current team and for them to be able to meet and know the players that wore the jersey before them. I want to make sure they know we appreciate the sacrifices they made to get this program where it is."
 
NSU comes into the important weekend after one of their best all-around weeks of competition, both in terms of opponents and how it performed in those games.
 
The Demons had a higher overall team batting average from the previous week for the third straight time, had more hits, struck out fewer times at the plate and allowed fewer runs and hits in the circle. 
 
"From week one at San Marcos to last week at Austin we've seen improvements in some aspect of the game," Prejean said. "Whether that was in the circle or offensive execution with our hit-and-run or stolen bases and things like that. Every week I felt like we improved in one way or another."
 
Senior pitcher Kenzie Seely had one of her best weeks in the circle as well holding opponents to a .148 batting average with a pair of two-hit complete game performances in five of her total appearances. She was named Southland Pitcher of the Week for her efforts, the first weekly honor of her career.
 
The offense supplied a boost in her two-hit complete game win against Tarleton with a four-run first inning and jumping out to a 6-0 lead through the first two innings of the game.
 
"You get more comfortable but still know that you have to go out there and throw your best game," Seely said about pitching with a lead early in the game. "It is good to know that if you do give up a hit or a run that you have some cushion on the board from your hitters backing you up."
 
When the Demons take on a Nicholls team that, like NSU, has some good wins and close games against top teams through its non-conference slate, that same formula of early run support is what Prejean wants first and foremost this weekend.
 
"Scoring early and taking advantage when we get runners in scoring situations is going to be important," Prejean said. "But executing early and not waiting until that second and third at-bat to make adjustments if there are ones that need to be made. And once we score some runs, make them crooked number innings."
 
The Demons have scored 18 total runs in the first two innings of games this year and are 8-4 this year when scoring first.
 
"We just want to play our best game," Seely said. "If we have some shutout pitching, good defense, have good at-bats I think if we can put all that together we're great. Just focusing on being there for each other and playing our best."