Demon Baseball | 4/5/2018 3:19:00 PM

NATCHITOCHES – As the schedule turns more favorable for the Northwestern State baseball team, the Demons are in search of a perfect formula.
 
Northwestern State opens a three-game series against Southland Conference rival Stephen F. Austin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, starting a month in which the Demons (14-13, 4-5) will play 13 of 17 games at home.
 
That swing comes after playing 14 of 19 March games away from Natchitoches.
 
"It's good for our fans to be able to expect games at home," second-year head coach Bobby Barbier said. "When you get multiple games in a few weeks in a row at home, they come to expect it. Our fans do a really good job of coming out and supporting us. It's also good for our guys to sleep in their own beds and get into more of a routine."
 
Throughout the series, which also includes a 2 p.m. Saturday matchup and a 1 p.m. Sunday series finale, fans at Brown-Stroud Field can purchase orange T-shirts for $10 with the proceeds going to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
 
The Demons split their 14 road games in March, including a 3-3 mark in six conference road games. As the schedule flips, Northwestern State plays four of its final seven series at home beginning this weekend.
 
They will start that stretch against a Lumberjacks (10-18, 3-6) team that has won all three of its road conference games but has dropped all six of its home conference games.
 
"They got a really big win (against UT-Arlington on Wednesday)," Barbier said. "From what everybody tells me – and I watched video of them – they swing the bats really well. We're going to have to do a good job on the mound this weekend."
 
SFA enters the weekend fifth in the Southland Conference in team batting average (.274) and third in runs scored (187). The Lumberjacks have homered 24 times, putting them five behind league-leading Sam Houston State in that category.
 
To try to counteract the Lumberjacks' offense, the Demons have changed their weekend rotation.
 
Junior left-hander Ridge Heisler (3-2, 3.60) will make his first Friday night start while junior right-hander Jerry Maddox (2-2, 2.83) slots into the weekend rotation for the first time this season on Saturday. Nathan Jones (1-3, 3.99) will shift to Sunday.
 
"We trust all of them," Barbier said. "It's about us trying to find that magic formula – which guy is better under the lights, which guy is better backing up another guy. The schedule allowed us to change it up. Jerry earned a spot in the weekend rotation with the way he's thrown in the mid-week games. Five of Ridge's seven starts have been really good. Every win is important, especially conference games. We're going to attack conference games with what we think the best formula is."
 
All three games in the series can be heard on 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches and via streaming audio on www.NSUDemons.com.
 
Series probables
Friday: Stephen F. Austin LHP Dru Dziedzic (0-2, 6.35) at Northwestern State LHP Ridge Heisler (3-2, 3.60)
Saturday: Stephen F. Austin RHP Sean Beasley (2-1, 8.24) at Northwestern State RHP Jerry Maddox (2-2, 2.83)
Sunday: Stephen F. Austin RHP Trevor Kiminski (1-3, 5.52) at Northwestern State RHP Nathan Jones (1-3, 3.99)