LAFAYETTE – The second of four sets of double midweek games for the Northwestern State baseball team begins tonight, and it stands alone in that quartet.
The Demons start their only set of back-to-back, midweek road games at 6 p.m. this evening when they face UL Lafayette at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field. The two-game road swing then carries Northwestern to Tulane for a 6:30 p.m. Wednesday matchup.
Both games will air on ESPN+ with free streaming audio available on www.NSUDemons.com and through the Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which can be downloaded free for both Apple and Android devices.
“In addition to being another opportunity to play baseball, it also comes with the idea you get to play two storied programs and two programs we have the utmost respect for,” second-year NSU coach Chris Bertrand said. “They’re going to challenge us in a much different way. We’re looking forward to learning those lessons and everything a trip like this brings to challenging ourselves and to learning a lot more about another phase in our growth and development as a baseball team.”
The Demons (18-9) will carry plenty of momentum with them for the midweek road swing.
Northwestern capped a 4-0 homestand with a three-game sweep of Nicholls this past weekend. That followed a 5-2 road trip to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Grambling and New Orleans. The Demons have won 14 of their last 16 games overall, and five straight.
To start the road trip, the Ragin’ Cajuns (14-15) will present a unique challenge to the Demon pitching staff and defense. Sixth-year Cajun head coach Matt Deggs’ offense has a reputation for blending speed and power with the ability to play small ball as well.
“Their brand of baseball makes you be prepared for everything offensively,” Bertrand said. “Your pitchers have to be able to hold runners and control the running game. You have to control the bunt game in a very special way against what they bring to the table.”
The Cajuns average 5.5 runs per game and have swiped 48 bases in 29 games. The Demon offense has bettered those numbers, averaging 7.6 runs per game while swiping 61 bases.
In the second game of the road trip, Northwestern meets Tulane (17-11 entering today’s game against Southern Miss) for the first time since splitting a two-game series in New Orleans on March 5-6, 2013.
Northwestern’s offense features the reigning Southland Conference Hitter of the Week, senior outfielder Balin Valentine, who earned his second such career honor Monday. Valentine batted .357 with four home runs and 10 RBIs as the Demons went 4-0 this past week.
The Demons will be at home this weekend in a three-game SLC series against UT-Rio Grande Valley at Brown-Stroud Field.