Demon Baseball | 4/19/2018 1:55:00 PM
LAKE CHARLES – Following Northwestern State's series with Southeastern Louisiana this past weekend, there was a bit more traffic than usual in the home bullpen at Brown-Stroud Field.
And that, according to head coach
Bobby Barbier, is a good thing.
"If you looked around after our game Sunday, we had 12 pitchers trying to throw bullpens," he said. "That's a good thing. When you only have two or three, that's not good. That means you had guys who had to come out of the game early on the weekend."
Barbier and his staff would not have a problem seeing that scenario reprise itself this weekend as the Demons travel to Southland Conference rival McNeese for a pivotal three-game conference series. First pitch of the series opener is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Joe Miller Ballpark.
All three games of the series, which also include a 3 p.m. Saturday start and a 1 p.m. Sunday series finale, can be heard on 100.7 FM KZBL. Friday's game will air on Cox Sports Television and on ESPN3 for those in the CST blackout area.
The logjam in the bullpen was caused by strong pitching by the Demons (20-16, 8-7), who got three consecutive quality starts from the trio of
Ridge Heisler (4-2, 2.77),
Jerry Maddox (3-3, 2.43) and
Nathan Jones (2-3, 3.25) for the second straight week.
Heisler and Jones threw complete games against the Lions with Heisler notching his first complete-game shutout en route to earning Louisiana Sports Writers Association Pitcher of the Week honors.
Following his first complete game of the season, Jones admitted there was a friendly competition between the Demons' starter, who have combined for a run of six straight quality starts (at least six innings pitched, three or fewer earned runs allowed) during SLC play.
"There's nothing like competition to breed good players," Barbier said. "Whether it's competition between position players or pitchers, they all feed off of it."
After quieting Southeastern Louisiana, the Demons will try to do so against a McNeese (17-20, 12-6) team that has won four straight games, averaging eight runs per game in that stretch.
Included in that run is a three-game sweep of New Orleans and a mid-week win against Southland Conference foe Houston Baptist.
"They scuffled a little on the front end," Barbier said. "Now they're starting to figure out who they are. They've played well in conference."
McNeese's Joe Miller Ballpark has a reputation as a hitters' park, something that sits in opposition of Northwestern State's Brown-Stroud Field. However, for all Mother Nature has thrown at the Demons this season – including affecting seven of NSU's nine weekend series – she may have aided them as they prepare to play in Lake Charles.
"It's a good place to play, a neat environment," Barbier said. "It's a good hitters' park, but our arena was hitter friendly this weekend to be honest. The wind blew out three straight games, which it doesn't usually do.
"(The ballpark) doesn't change anything. I know it's coach speak, but for us, it's about Ridge competing for the first pitch and us putting together competitive at-bats. I have no doubt we'll go down and compete."
Series probables
Friday: Northwestern State LHP
Ridge Heisler (4-2, 2.77) at McNeese RHP Grant Anderson (3-3, 3.21)
Saturday: Northwestern State RHP
Jerry Maddox (3-3, 2.43) at McNeese LHP Bryan King (3-2, 3.80)
Sunday: Northwestern State RHP
Nathan Jones (2-3, 3.25) at McNeese TBA
