NATCHITOCHES – Three days after it completed the three-game sweep of Central Arkansas, the Northwestern State baseball team will look to push its win streak to four when the Demons host Louisiana Tech on Tuesday at 6:30 in non-conference action at Brown-Stroud Field.
 
The game will be broadcast on 100.7 KZBL-FM in Natchitoches and carried at NSUDemons.com for free.
 
Both teams met on Apr. 2 in Ruston, and the Demons (25-19) took the contest 2-1.  Both teams enter with three straight wins after Louisiana Tech (13-27) swept Alabama A&M in a three-game set over the weekend.
 
"It's a big game for our fans, and I know it has been a longstanding rivalry.  We take that seriously," said Demon baseball head coach Lane Burroughs.
 
"This is a late season midweek game, and a lot of times you have to find a way to get the troops going," he said.  "We know they are coming over here to bring it, and they are looking for anything they can get."
 
Steven Spann (7-5, 4.30 earned run average) is expected to start on the mound for the Demons, and will be opposed by left-hander Mark Baughman (0-2, 5.48) for the Bulldogs.
 
Spann is the Demons' leader in wins this season, and all but one has come out of the bullpen.  He has three starts and 20 appearances on the season, and has worked 46 innings and allowed 22 runs along with 24 walks and 31 strikeouts.
 
"We're going to give him a chance to start again, and I know he will compete his tail off," said Burroughs.
 
Baughman has 12 appearances and 21.1 innings of work on the year.  He has allowed 13 earned runs and stuck out four batters with seven walks.
 
Both Cort Brinson (.308) and Caleb Dugas (.305) jumped over the .300 batting average mark after the UCA series and joined Bret Underwood, who leads the team with a .310 average.  Dugas lead the Demons in runs scored, and Chase Daughdrill leads the team in runs batted in with 34.
 
Taylor Love (.327) is the only hitter for Louisiana Tech over the .300 mark for batting average.  Tyler Ervine is the Bulldog leader in RBIs with 20, and Love leads the team in runs scored with 23.
 
After their game with Louisiana Tech, the Demon will travel to Incarnate Word for a three-game Southland Conference set.  That series is slated for 6:30 on Friday.