BEAUMONT, Texas – After just 13 games, the Northwestern State baseball team has not hit the reset button.
 
Starting Friday, however, the Demons get to enjoy a bit of a fresh start, as Northwestern State travels to Lamar (7-5) to open Southland Conference play with a three-game series.
 
First pitch Friday is set for 6 p.m. at Vincent-Beck Stadium. Saturday's game begins at 2 p.m., and the series concludes with a 1 p.m. Sunday first pitch.
 
Should weather not be a factor for the Demons (6-7) for the first time since opening weekend, NSU will conclude its busiest week of the season with a start to the most important part of its season.
 
"Our new season starts Friday, and that's what it's all about," third-year head coach Lane Burroughs said. "We're looking forward to getting league play started."
 
Northwestern State's starting pitching has given Burroughs plenty of reason to be excited.
 
In the last seven games where NSU did not use a starter for a predetermined amount of innings, the Demons have recorded six quality starts, including a pair of complete-game shutouts.
 
During the seven-game run, in which NSU went 5-2, Demons starters have worked 53 1-3 innings and allowed eight earned runs, equating to an ERA of 1.36.
 
"We played 34 innings (against Sacred Heart last week) and used only five or six pitchers," Burroughs said. "That means you're getting quality starts, which get you into the sixth or seventh inning.  Adam (Oller) took us into the eighth, Josh (Oller) and (Jeffrey) Stovall took us into the ninth. You can't ask for anything more than that."
 
Those three are the Demons' probable starters this weekend with Adam Oller opening the series, Josh Oller going Saturday and Stovall taking the ball in Sunday's series finale.
 
They will face a Lamar team that has swept a four-game series against Manhattan in Beaumont then was swept last weekend at Texas-Pan American.
 
Despite a long series history, the Demons and Cardinals have not met in a three-game series since April 2013.
 
"We didn't play them last year until we got into the (Southland) tournament, and we got into a shootout with them (a 10-8 NSU victory)," Burroughs said. "One thing about Lamar, I've been competing against them for years wherever I've been, they're going to play hard. They're going to bring it. They're not going to back down. When you play for Lamar, you're in for a fight.
 
"I don't really look much into how they've been playing. I know they've beat some good teams this year. They're like we are, trying to find out who they are. I know they lost some key components from last year. It's early, but it's time to go."
 
The Demons return home Tuesday to begin a four-game homestand when they host Louisiana Tech in NSU's lone midweek matchup of the week. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Brown-Stroud Field. NSU's then opens the home portion of Southland Conference play next weekend against defending league champion Sam Houston State.
 Friday: RHP Adam Oller (NSU) vs. RHP Danny Fernandez (Lamar)
Saturday: RHP Josh Oller (NSU) vs. LHP Chase Angelle (Lamar)
Sunday: RHP Jeffrey Stovall (NSU) vs. RHP Eric Foshee (Lamar)