NACOGDOCHES, Texas – When you're playing as well as Northwestern State softball is at the moment, you want to get back on the field as soon as possible. 
 
Due to expected weather in the area, that is just what the Demons (18-18, 7-5) will do as the three-game set at Stephen F. Austin (21-16, 5-7) was moved up a day and will now be played Thursday and Friday. The series opens with a 4 p.m. doubleheader on Thursday, followed by a single game Friday at 12 p.m.
 
Neither of Thursday's games will air on ESPN+, but the opener can be heard on 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches. Friday's finale is scheduled to stream on ESPN+.
 
NSU enters the weekend riding one of its strongest stretches of the season, having won four straight games. The Demons went 10-5 during the month of March and won six of their seven home games, climbing back to the .500 mark to match one of their best starts through this point in the past seven seasons.
 
"We've really been gelling more and clicking more as a team over the past month or so," head coach Jenny Fuller said. "In year two of a rebuild it can be tricky because there are a lot of ups and downs. The key is just managing them and keeping the team headed in the right direction. I think that's what we're doing. We're gelling and finding some stability in our lineup. Pitchers are doing well and hopefully we can carry that into this weekend."
 
The recent surge has been fueled by production throughout the lineup. Brynn Daniel (.348), Peyton Young (.328) and JT Smith (.326) are all hitting above .325 on the year, each carrying an on-base percentage north of .400. Smith's .514 on-base percentage ranks second in the Southland Conference.
 
In the circle, ace Mattison Buster continues to anchor the staff. The senior picked up her 15th win of the season in Tuesday's 2-1 victory against Louisiana Tech, her 13th complete game of the year, both conference highs. Her 15 wins match Micaela Bouvier for the second-most by an NSU pitcher since 2014, one shy of the top mark in that span.
 
After sweeping East Texas A&M and securing a midweek win against Tech, the Demons carry both momentum and confidence into their fifth conference series.
 
"I think every time we're playing right now we're gaining confidence," Fuller said. "In a tough conference like the Southland, having confidence is a big booster for your team. After last night we're going into this series feeling good but knowing that SFA is a good team and we need to play well to win."
 
The Lumberjacks enters the series with momentum of its own, winning four straight games following a sweep of Houston Christian and a run-rule victory at Prairie View A&M on Tuesday.
 
They are led offensively by reigning Southland Conference Hitter of the Week Ellie Vance, who went 10-for-11 (.909) in last weekend's series. She leads the conference with a .424 batting average and has struck out just four times in 125 at-bats this season, making her one of the toughest outs in the league. She has recorded multi-hit performances in five of her last seven games.
 
SFA's strength starts in the circle, where the Lumberjacks boast the second-lowest team ERA in the conference at 3.15. Crimson Bryant is tied with Buster for the league lead with 78 strikeouts and averages 7.2 strikeouts per seven innings, while Amelia Hatthorn carries a 2.12 ERA.
 
The duo has helped SFA post nine shutouts this season, including allowing just six total runs during its current four-game winning streak.
 
"They're pitching is really good right now," Fuller said. "But at this point I think we've seen every style of pitching so nothing should really surprise us. And having that confidence at the plate is a huge part of it."