RUSTON – Fresh off a three-game Southland Conference sweep over Lamar, Northwestern State will look to put an end to its mid-week slump on Tuesday when it visits Louisiana Tech.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at J.C. Love Field. The game will be carried live on the Demons Sports Network which is flagshipped by 100.7 KZBL in Natchitoches.

The Demons (10-12) have won eight of their last 11 games and are in a tie for first place in the conference standings with Sam Houston State at 7-2. But mid-week games haven't been so kind with NSU winning one of six with its last one being a 13-0 loss at LSU two weeks ago.

But this isn't the same Demon team either.

Since that game in Baton Rouge, NSU's offensive has caught fire and has seen its batting average climb 25 points from .249 to its current mark of .274. The Demons have three double-hit hit contests in those six games and have 17 extra-base hits.

Left fielder Will Watson has vaulted himself back to the top of the team rankings in hitting with a .341 average to go along with 13 stolen bases – second best on the squad. Right fielder Jordan Buckley is batting .323 with a team-high 15 base swipes and Nick Purdy, who hit .444 over the weekend, is now batting .315 and leads the team with 19 base-on-balls.

Two other hitters, first baseman Nick Hinojos (.306) and center fielder Drew Helenihi (.304) are also above the .300 mark. Hinojos leads the team with four home runs and 19 RBI as Helenihi has nine stolen bases.

On the mound, the Demons will turn to LHP Jacob Williford to start Tuesday's game.  Williford is 0-1 on the year with a 9.53 ERA and will be making his fourth start of the season.

Louisiana Tech is 11-12 on the season and dropped two of three at Dallas Baptist over the weekend, including an 11-3 loss on Sunday.

Shortstop Ryan Gebhardt leads the team in batting with a .392 average as Alex Williams is the pace setter in power with seven home runs and 25 runs batted in. The Bulldogs are hitting .296 as a unit.

Northwestern State will return home on Friday at 6:30 when it opens a three-game conference series against Stephen F. Austin.