Demon Baseball | 4/9/2018 3:03:00 PM
BEAUMONT, Texas – The scenario for the Northwestern State baseball team is the same it was two weeks ago.
For the second time in 14 days, the Demons will head down Highway 96 through east Texas to face Southland Conference foe Lamar in non-conference action at Vincent-Beck Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
In the second of three matchups between the teams, the Demons (16-14) are looking for a repeat performance from their 7-2 victory on March 27 even if they will do it with a little different cast of characters.
Two weeks ago,
Jerry Maddox turned in six innings without allowing an earned run, aiding his cause to move into the weekend rotation where he now resides.
In the rematch, freshman right-hander
Robert Burke (0-2, 5.04) will get the start on what will be a staff day for the Demons pitching corps.
"Hopefully we'll play like we did then," second-year head coach
Bobby Barbier said. "We got two good pitching performances from Jerry (Maddox) and David (Hodo). Hopefully, we can build on that. We'll have to do that with a different group of pitchers. We've played a lot of innings in a short time the past two days. We need some guys who haven't pitched much lately to step up.
"it's good to get those guys opportunities to keep them engaged and because they've earned the opportunity to go out there and compete."
The Demons have won three of their past four games after splitting a Sunday doubleheader against Stephen F. Austin.
Within the 24 innings of Sunday baseball, Northwestern State experienced the highs and lows of the game as part of a wacky weekend of baseball. After not playing for six days following a March 31 victory at Central Arkansas, the Demons saw rain halt Friday's series opener after three innings, forcing NSU to play the final 30 innings of the series in a window of about 25 hours.
"We talk about toughness," Barbier said. "Regardless of the circumstance, can we make the decision to go out there and play like we've worked on playing, like we've practiced, with that energy and enthusiasm, or do we let the outside circumstances of playing two games in a short time and a quick turnaround affect us? It can work for you or against you. The tough teams go out and play well regardless of the situation."
Lamar (7-25) has won two of its past seven games after dropping 10 of 11 games prior to the teams' first meeting two weeks ago.
The Cardinals will start right-hander Chet Jones (0-1, 5.74), who allowed two hits and a walk in a scoreless inning in the first matchup.
"They're pitching it well," Barbier said. "They're at a 3.81 (ERA). We'll have to go in there and match them on the mound. I go into every game expecting the other team to play well against us. That's the mind-set you have to have. You saw Sunday we went from a 16-2 game to a 15-inning marathon where we got beat. That's why baseball is unlike any other game. It's hard for the players who play it to understand, and it's harder for outsiders to understand. This game will make you feel on top of the world one minute and humble you the next."
