FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas – After seeing two of its first three baseball games washed away by rain, Northwestern State will hit the road for a two-game series against the nation's fourth-ranked team when it faces former head Coach Dave Van Horn and the Arkansas Razorbacks at 3:05 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Demons (1-0) defeated Jacksonville State on Friday night in the season opener after strong pitching performances by starter Joe Scanio and reliever Mason Melotakis, and also some stout defense from a unit that was the only team in the Southland Conference to not commit and error over the weekend.

Arkansas (3-0) breezed through a three-game sweep over Villanova over the weekend, outscoring the Wildcats by a combined 41-7 margin, including a 13-1 win on Saturday and 17-1 on Sunday.

“We are excited bout this opportunity to play Arkansas in Fayetteville,” said fifth year Demon head coach J.P. Davis.  “They are a great top 10 team and a potential College World Series squad.”

The Demons will turn to left-handed hurler Colin Bear to take the mound against a powerful offensive unit in the series opener.  Bear, who went 1 for 3 with a RBI single in Friday's win at the designated hitter spot, compiled a 3.54 ERA in 14 starts last season for the Demons.

Offensively, the Razorbacks got a surprise outing from senior outfielder Sam Bates over the weekend after he finished the series 5 for 9 at the plate with two home runs, nine RBI and three runs scored.  The two homers were the first of his career and his nine RBI eclipsed his 2011 season total when he finished with seven.

Arkansas is expected to throw RHP Brandon Moore on Tuesday and RHP Greg Milhorn on Wednesday.  Moore (0-0, 0.00, 1.0 IP) threw one inning over the weekend and had a 4-1 record with a 3.45 ERA in 17 appearances with 11 starts last season.

Milhorn, a true freshman, will be getting his first career start in Wednesday's game.

The Demons are led at the plate by third baseman Nick Hinojos (.500) and right fielder Jordan Buckley (.500).  Buckley reached base in three of his four appearances on Friday and stole three bases.

The Razorbacks hit .406 as a team over the weekend, led by 3B/SS Matt Reynolds' .800 (8 for 10) mark with two doubles, five runs scored and three RBI.

“Coach Van Horn has a very talented team once again and we are looking forward to competing against them,” said Davis.

Van Horn coached the Demons to two Southland Conference championships in his three seasons from 1995-97 and compiled a 106-65 record.  He was a two-time Southland Coach of the Year and his 1997 squad set a school record for home runs in a game with eight, a record that still stands.

This will be the first game against Arkansas since an 8-4 Demon win on Feb. 27, 2001.  Arkansas' No. 4 ranking (Baseball America) is the highest ranked opponent the Demons have faced since losing back-to-back games to fifth-ranked LSU April 20-21.  The Razorbacks are also ranked No. 8 in this week's Collegiate Baseball poll.

Following the Arkansas series, the Demons will return to Brown-Stroud Field on Friday to begin a three-game series against Southern.