NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State was finally able to break through the slew of close loses this past weekend. It hopes that effort will propel it forward as it returns home for a three-game set with Stephen F. Austin.
 
First pitch for the series, and Friday's traditional doubleheader, is set for 4 p.m. Due to weather concerns in the area throughout the weekend, Saturday's single game has been moved to a Sunday start at 12 p.m.
 
Friday will also serve as Greek night and NSU student tailgate night in conjunction with NSU baseball's home series against UTRGV. Prizes being given away throughout both games during the half inning breaks.
 
Tickets for both the softball and baseball series can be purchased by visiting www.nsutickets.com.
 
The 8-7 win at East Texas A&M not only snapped a long losing skid, but also served as a streak breaker for seven straight conference losses in games decided by two runs or fewer, at least one in each of the three Southland Conference series this year.
 
Hitting the ball over the fence is a good way to end those kinds of streaks and that is exactly what the Demons (4-31, 1-11) did with five home runs over three games. It injected life into the Demon offense they hope carries over into the series with the Lumberjacks (17-19, 6-6).
 
"Brad (Fuller) puts together such great game plans and works really hard scouting the teams we're playing," head coach Jenny Fuller said. "So it's nice to see when our players can especially get those extra base hits, hit some home runs. So happy for him that they were able to do that and think it just gives us a little bit of confidence. We put up four runs on ULM on Wednesday and had the chance for more and they're one of the top mid-majors in the country. We need to carry that same energy into this weekend."
 
While she did not a home run at East Texas A&M, getting her first career long ball during opening weekend, DJ Lynch has been a key part of the Demons' continued progression as an offensive unit.
 
She leads the team in RBI this year and has driven in a run in each of the past four games. She is tied with Brynn Daniel for the team lead in RBI in conference games with eight in 12 total games. Her .500 on-base percentage ranks in the top 10 in the conference.
 
Since the start of conference play, Lynch has raised her batting average over 100 points and is now the team leader with a .317 clip.
 
"Definitely had a lot more confidence in myself after I picked up a few hits and RBIs," Lynch said. "A big thing for me was being able to find my place and my spot in the lineup and doing my job. For my teammates to have confidence in me, I have to have confidence in me first. So that all goes back to preparation and working hard and getting back to what got me here."
 
Lynch and the Demons will face off with an experienced SFA pitching staff with a pair of seniors and one junior leading the way. The Ladyjacks have split their innings nearly equally among their four arms with senior and team ERA leader (2.22) Alexis Telford, a pitcher of the week winner this season, throwing the least number at 47.1.
 
Telford threw a six-inning complete game shutout in the first of two run-rule wins for the Ladyjacks over HCU this past weekend. SFA has three run-rule wins in their past four games after an 8-0 win in five over Texas Southern on Tuesday of this week.
 
"They have some hitters that are pretty good at the top of their lineup and then kind of mix things up after that," Fuller said. "They're well coached so I think they're going to come in here prepared and that we'll see a well-balanced team with some veteran experience."
 
Adelyn Becerra anchored the Lumberjack lineup in the series win against HCU going 6-for-10 with three home runs and six RBI. The former JUCO All-American leads the team with six long balls but only has 12 RBI on the season after missing 11 total games.
 
"After those first two games when we were at East Texas we had a kind of kumbaya meeting if you will," Lynch said. "Some of the girls stepped up and we just had a good conversation and I feel like that brought everybody together on the same page. Bailie (Ragsdale), Sophia (Livers) and Aly (Delafield) calling us together and showing that kind of leadership kind of pumped everybody up going into the next day. I feel like if we can keep that same energy we'll be perfectly fine in our next few conference series."