NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State baseball team has figured out its formula for optimal success.
 
It knows what is at stake in the final 10 games of the regular season.
 
As the stretch run beings, it is up to the Demons to prove they are who they say they are. Doing so begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday when Northwestern State hosts Grambling in the opener of a three-game, non-conference series at Brown-Stroud Field.
 
The series continues with a 2 p.m. game Saturday and Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale. Streaming audio and video for each game is available on www.NSUDemons.com and through the new Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which can be downloaded free through the Apple Store or Google Play.
 
"We're going to see if we're really who we say we are," third-year head coach Bobby Barbier said. "Are we the team that the opponent doesn't matter; that conference or non-conference really matters? Are we a team that can get up and play regardless of what happened the day before?
 
"When you step out of conference at this point in the conference schedule, you really see if you're who you say you are."
 
That statistics say Northwestern State (26-18) is extremely tough to beat at Brown-Stroud Field, posting an 18-5 mark at its home park this season.
 
Similarly, stepping out of conference has led to success for NSU, which is 13-7 in non-Southland Conference games, a .650 winning percentage.
 
One of those wins came against Southern earlier this season. Grambling (23-21) took two of three from the Jaguars this past weekend at Grambling before dropping a 17-3 decision at Arkansas on Tuesday.
 
That blemish belied the way the Tigers have played lately.
 
"They're playing well," Barbier said of the Tigers, who had won eight straight before dropping the series finale against Southern and Tuesday's game against the Razorbacks.
 
"Playing them last year late in the year in a mid-week game, I thought they had a really good lineup. They got off to a slow start this year. They're starting to turn it on and play well. It's good for them to be playing well at the right time."
 
In the Tigers' eight-game win streak from April 14-27, the Tigers scored no fewer than eight runs in each game, averaging 11.6 runs per game during that stretch.
 
While the Tigers have been stellar offensively – hitting .285 as a team and averaging 7.3 runs per game – the Demons have been at their best when they pitch and play defense.
 
Northwestern State enters its final non-conference series of the season leading the Southland Conference and ranking 17^th nationally in fielding percentage (.979). Additionally, the Demons rank fifth nationally with six shutouts and are 16^th in fewest walks per nine innings (3.12).
 
It adds up to a formula that has led to success for the Demons, especially at home.
 
"For us to win, we have to field the ball well," Barbier said. "We have to throw the ball in the strike zone out of the bullpen. We have to get those big hits.
 
Series Probables:
Friday: Grambling LHP Bryan Delgado (6-2, 2.68) at Northwestern State LHP Ridge Heisler (3-4, 3.03)
Saturday: Grambling RHP Jason Alvarez (3-2, 7.33) at Northwestern State RHP Nathan Jones (6-2, 2.14)
Sunday: Grambling LHP Ryan Huntington (5-2, 6.24) at Northwestern State RHP Cullen McDonald (4-1, 3.15)