RUSTON – Having completed conference play, the Northwestern State softball team will play its first of three non-conference games to end the season when it travels to Louisiana Tech on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. start time.

Sophomore Tara McKenney enters the game on a hot streak for NSU (19-28, 7-13 SLC), having knocked at least two hits in all of the last three games. She leads the team with 18 multi-hit games on the season and ranks ninth in the Southland Conference with a .355 batting average.

Freshman Brittany Virgoe is on the verge of becoming the ultimate team player, as she is tied for taking the most hit-by-pitches in program history with 14. If Virgoe gets beamed one more time, she will break Amy Thomas' single-season record set in 1995.

The Lady Demons shutout the Lady Techsters (21-29, 7-10 WAC) by the score of 3-0 in their last meeting on April 10 at the Lady Demon Diamond Complex. Kylie Roos, who is probable to start on Wednesday, threw a one-hit complete-game shutout and struck out six to secure the victory. Brianna Rodriguez and Cassandra Barefield did the damage at the plate by blasting homers in the decisive three-run second inning.

Roos leads the NSU pitching staff on the year with eight wins, four complete-game shutouts and a 3.29 ERA in 117 innings pitched.

LTU is coming off a doubleheader split with McNeese State on Monday. The Lady Techsters are led by junior Melanie Goff who hits for an impressive .404 batting average. Michelle Jones is LTU's ace and carries a 2.65 ERA and 13-13 record in 26 starts and 166.2 innings.

NSU will conclude the season on Saturday with a doubleheader at North Texas. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the night cap will begin 30 minutes after the completion of game one.