NATCHITOCHES – There are plenty of similarities between the Northwestern State baseball team and its home-opening opponent, the UL Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns.
 
Chief among them: Both teams enjoyed double-digit improvements in wins from the 2013 to 2014 seasons, and both teams are off to slower-than-wanted starts in the 2015 season.
 
Both the Demons (1-3) and the Cajuns (1-2) will get the chance to score their second victory of the season when they meet Wednesday afternoon at Brown-Stroud Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m., as the threat of declining temperatures forced the teams to move up the start time by two hours.
 
Northwestern State will start left-hander Austin Tanner (0-0, 0.00 ERA) against Cajuns left-hander Gunner Leger (0-0, 9.00) in a matchup of pitchers who each worked one inning of relief during opening weekend.
 
"They didn't get off to a great start this weekend, like I know they wanted to," third-year coach Lane Burroughs said. "They're going to come in here with their hair on fire, ready to play. We're looking forward to facing another quality opponent, and I know everyone is looking forward to going out there against the Cajuns."
 
Where the similarities end between the teams is in the number of returners.
 
The Demons return seven everyday starters from a team that improved its win total by 17 games from 2013-14. The Cajuns, who reached the NCAA Super Regional a season ago, lost five players who started at least 60 of their 68 games in 2014 when UL Lafayette boosted its win total by 15.
 
That does not mean coach Tony Robichaux's team is without some key components from last year's squad.
 
"There's still (Blake) Trahan at short, the preseason player in their league (Sun Belt)," Burroughs said. "They still have some pieces of the puzzle. They'll be ready. I respect Robe (Robichaux). He's one of the best in the business. They have a great program, a lot of history. We respect the heck out of them."
 
In addition to Trahan, the Cajuns return third baseman Tyler Girouard (.324, 3 HRs, 32 RBIs in 2014) and outfielder Dylan Butler (.298, 6 HRs, 31 RBIs) from a team that batted .317 and slugged 68 home runs.
 
Although Northwestern State had seven players make their Demons debuts this weekend, it was the veterans who caught Burroughs' eye despite the 1-3 start.
 
Catcher/designated hitter C.J. Webster drove in five runs, including four in Sunday's 9-5 win against Troy, while outfielders Bret Underwood and Nick Heath combined to steal five bases in six tries.
 
Burroughs said his team was a better team leaving Troy, Ala., on Sunday afternoon, which was directly attributable to the Demons returners. 
 
"I'm really proud of how our veterans stepped up over the weekend," Burroughs said. "I saw some guys take a leadership role this weekend; became a little vocal after the second loss. They hadn't done that before, and that's encouraging to see."
 
The Demons will return to action Friday when they begin a weekend set against Creighton and Arkansas State. Northwestern State will face Creighton on Friday (6:30 p.m.) and Sunday (Noon) and will battle Arkansas State on Saturday at 5 p.m.