As one of the youngest teams competing in the Southland Conference (SLC), the Northwestern State University of Louisiana’s Lady Demons closed their 2025 season.
Jenny Fuller, head softball coach, took the position in August to rebuild the program, where her goals were to “build the program back to its championship caliber,” as mentioned to The Current Sauce previously.
NSU’s roster had 12 freshmen, five sophomores and one senior. Jenny Fuller explained that opposing coaches noticed this and encouraged her to move forward into future seasons.
“After every series we played, almost every coach was complimentary of our players. And just they said, you know, don’t get discouraged by the losses that, you know, every coach said you all are going to be good. So I think that’s very encouraging. And we know it just takes a little bit of time,” Jenny Fuller said.
The Lady Demons went up against several tough Southeastern Conference (SEC) schools, including Mississippi State University, where the team shut out the Lady Bulldogs 5-0. Fuller explained that going up against the competition was the biggest win of her coaching career and a memorable experience for the team.
“I mean, that was just fun, but like it just didn’t seem possible at that time. Just surreal,” Jenny Fuller said. “Bailie was hurt and she was cheering us on. And I was like, ‘God, what are we going to do?’ But, you know, we had some players rise up and make plays. So I would say that’s just something that the players will take for the rest of their lives as well.”
Fuller praised Bailie Ragsdale, the only graduating senior on the team, for her commitment, dedication and leadership towards the Lady Demons throughout her time at NSU.
“You know, I’d like to thank Bailie for sticking it out with me being her third coach here at NSU; she could have said, ‘you know what, I’m out,’ and she didn’t. And we really needed her to be with us. So I’m just really thankful for her and her family, and she gave us 110%,” Jenny Fuller said.
Coming from Lone Oak, Texas, Ragsdale, health and exercise science major and outfielder, explained that she held previously leadership positions in high school, but never to the extent of her time with the Lady Demons this season.
“I was held to a big leadership role this year, and I basically just taught them the ways of D1 softball, because a lot of them were new. So, kind of going into that teaching role and helping them with whatever they needed,” Ragsdale said.
During her 2025 season, Ragsdale missed five games in mid-March due to an injury and went 2-for-3 with a pair of base hits. According to NSU Athletics, she was also one of nine total players in the league to commit no errors, including teammates Sophia Livers and Brynn Daniels.
“I think we grew tremendously, and it doesn’t account for wins and losses in the growth department, I think,” she said. “From the first day out to the last day, last weekend, I think we were, we produced so much better. You could see on the field from the defensive and offensive standpoint.”
She added that the team came together and the tough conversations around wins, losses, improvements and adjustments grew the team to its fullest capabilities.
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have tough conversations at that point of the season,” Ragsdale said. “So, we had each other’s back, and we held each other accountable, and we know that everyone can do better. And everybody has that opportunity to do better, and when that opportunity comes, you’ll know how to execute those plans.”
Although her new position changed the dynamic of her role on the team, Ragsdale prides herself and the rest of the team on developing more of a family dynamic.
“I think family has everything to do with the sport. It doesn’t include softball or anything, I think family’s just a big benefactor,” Ragsdale said. “And that’s what I’m all about is family. So, everything that I’ll be a part of from here on out will be a big family function.”
Beatrice, Nebraska native, Riley Schwisow, sophomore communication major and third baseman, originally committed to Pittsburg State University with Jenny Fuller and Brad Fuller — she then followed them to NSU. With the program’s growth under the Fullers, she believes the team will reach new heights.
“I wouldn’t have gone so far from home if I didn’t trust and believe in them. I think just the standard that they set on this team was something I had never experienced before,” Schwisow said.
Under the watchful eye of Brad Fuller, associate head coach and husband to Jenny, Schwisow’s work at the plate improved.
“I really like where my swing is going, I think. I am most excited for that, you know, working with Coach Brad. He knows what he’s talking about,” she said.
Schwisow explained that the expectations going into the season were set from day one. Although this was an adjustment from the Midwest softball life, she believes that it will push the team to grow and will benefit in the long run.
“I remember, like, the first time we were in the locker room, she had said something. And she goes, ‘you with me?’ And everyone says, ‘yes, ma’am.’ And I was, like, dumbfounded. I have never been a part of anything like that,” she said.
NSU ended its season with a 4-23 conference record, beating East Texas A&M University, University of Incarnate Word, Nicholls State University and Texas A&M Corpus-Christi. The team ended with an overall record of 7-43.
Although the team was unable to make it to the SLC Tournament this season, Fuller looks to improve the team’s success next fall, starting with the team’s culture by laying a good foundation.
“We really had to try and bring everything out of all the players because we were so young. And so we had to do a lot of teaching, I feel like, which is more so than with past teams that I’ve had, just because of that peak. Moving forward, they’ll know what to expect, and they’ll be able to teach the players that are coming in,” Jenny Fuller said.
