Demon Baseball | 4/23/2018 3:14:00 PM
NATCHITOCHES – As the Northwestern State baseball team prepares for its second five-game homestand in the past two-plus weeks, it won't have to look back too far for a cautionary tale.
The Demons start the homestand with a two-game, mid-week series against Mississippi Valley State (11-23) that begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The series concludes with a 12 p.m. game Wednesday.
Both Northwestern State (21-18) and the visiting Delta Devils have surpassed their win totals from the 2017 season.
One week ago, Northwestern State hosted a Lamar team that entered with a similar record as Mississippi Valley State. The Cardinals walked away with a 3-2 victory after falling twice to Northwestern State in earlier mid-week games.
"We saw a week ago what can happen against a team with a bad record," second-year head coach
Bobby Barbier said. "Records in baseball don't mean a whole lot. A team can play well any day. We've seen Lamar reel off seven out of eight in that stretch. I fully expect them to come in playing well."
The Demons have won six straight games in the series, grabbing two-game sweeps in each of the past three seasons.
In addition to facing Northwestern State for the fourth straight season, the Delta Devils are familiar with the Southland Conference. Mississippi Valley State has faced Central Arkansas twice and Nicholls once this season, dropping all three games.
The Delta Devils fell 4-3 in Thibodaux on April 18 and had the tying run on third with one out in the eighth inning against the Colonels.
"It's been a good series," Barbier said. "We enjoy playing them, and I hope they enjoy playing it too. Playing two mid-week games will give us a chance to get back to that feeling of overcoming losing two games this weekend or where we are in the (Southland Conference) standings
"It's about coming to compete on Tuesday, having a good BP (batting practice), competing in that first pitch, that first at-bat."
The Demons will start a pair of right-handers in the series. Sophomore
David Hodo (0-3, 2.41) will make his first career start in the series opener while junior
Cullen McDonald (1-0, 5.87) is scheduled to start the series finale Wednesday.
Mississippi Valley State has not announced a starter for either game.
There will be a ticket special for Wednesday's game as $10 gives fans a game ticket, a hot dog and a soft drink.
Series probables
Tuesday: Mississippi Valley State TBA at Northwestern State RHP
David Hodo (0-3, 2.41)
Wednesday: Mississippi Valley State TBA at Northwestern State RHP
Cullen McDonald (1-0, 5.87)
