NACOGDOCHES, Texas  – When the Northwestern State baseball team resumes Southland Conference play this weekend at Stephen F. Austin, it may see an opponent in a familiar scenario.
 
The Demons head to Jaycees Field for Friday's 6:30 p.m. series opener with the rival Lumberjacks, a team that has outpaced preseason expectations in much the same way Northwestern State did a season ago.
 
Stephen F. Austin (18-23, 11-7) enters the series tied for fourth in the conference standings after being predicted to finish 12^th by the league's coaches and sports information directors in the preseason poll.
 
"They're pitching it really well in conference," third-year head coach Bobby Barbier said. "They have three weekend starters who compete in the strike zone and a couple of good relievers in the back end. It's the same formula we used last year. It's going to be a tough battle for our club."
 
The three-game series caps a season-long, five-game road trip for the Demons (24-16, 12-9), who split a two-game series at No. 6/8 Arkansas on Tuesday and Wednesday.
 
Northwestern State answered Arkansas' 19-2 win in the opener with a 10-7 victory in Wednesday's series finale, giving NSU its second win against a Southeastern Conference team this season. The Demons earlier defeated LSU, 3-1, at Brown-Stroud Field on March 12.
 
Tyler Smith paced Northwestern State's victory, tying a school-record with three home runs and setting a career high with seven RBIs. Meanwhile, the Demons' bullpen allowed just three runs while covering the final 8 1-3 innings of the game.
 
"We've handled (those situations) well this year," Barbier said. "Most mature teams do. I don't think we got too low after they handed it to us Tuesday. On that same note, we shouldn't think that, because we won on Wendesday, that we can't prepare hard (Thursday) and play well (Friday). We have to show up and play well to win games."
 
While relievers Peyton Graham, Austin Reich, David Hodo and Tyler Pigott shined Wednesday, the Demons' trio of senior starting pitchers have delivered in the majority of the Demons' first seven Southland Conference series.
 
Of the 17 Southland Conference starts for Ridge Heisler, Nathan Jones and Cullen McDonald, the three have delivered a combined 11 quality starts (at least six innings pitched, three or fewer earned runs).
 
All three have spun a complete game in conference play with Jones firing a complete-game, three-hit shutout against McNeese in his most recent conference start.
 
That trio will square off with right-hander Alex Palmer (3-5, 3.36), left-hander Jacob Stobart (6-1, 5.61) and right-hander Trayson Kubo (1-1, 6.19) in the series, which includes a 12:30 p.m. Saturday matinee before Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale.
 
"Each player, I've learned through the years, it takes different things to get them going," Barbier said. "Sometimes, it's competition between each other. Some guys need to see another jersey across om them. Some have to be really confident going in. It's different things for different guys, and I'm good for whatever it takes."
 
Sunday's game can be heard on 100.7 FM KZBL and the Demon Sports Network. Streaming audio of all three games in the series can be heard on www.NSUDemons.com/watch or through the new Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which can be downloaded free through the Apple Store or Google Play. Patrick Netherton will have the call of Sunday's series finale.
 
Series Probables
Friday: Northwestern State LHP Ridge Heisler (3-3, 3.07) at Stephen F. Austin RHP Alex Palmer (3-5, 3.36)
Saturday: Northwestern State RHP Nathan Jones (5-2, 2.50) at Stephen F. Austin LHP Jacob Stobart (6-1, 5.61)
Sunday: Northwestern State RHP Cullen McDonald (4-0, 2.66) at Stephen F. Austin RHP Trayson Kubo (1-1, 6.19)