ABILENE, Texas – A shortened week will make life a little different for the Northwestern State baseball team as it returns to Southland Conference play.
 
The Demons jump back into the land of four-game weekend series Thursday when they face Abilene Christian at 6:05 p.m. in the opener of a four-game Southland Conference series that runs a day earlier than most because of the Easter holiday weekend. The series also includes a 2:05 p.m. Friday doubleheader and a 2:05 p.m. Saturday single game.
 
In addition to having a day less of rest for its pitchers, Northwestern State (10-12, 4-4) ventures to one of the most offense-friendly ballparks in the Southland and will face an Abilene Christian (15-8, 7-5) team that leads the conference in batting average (.303), runs scored (194), doubles (51) and home runs (20).
 
"It looks like they are swinging the bat well," fifth-year head coach Bobby Barbier said. "This weekend comes down to execution on the mound and at the plate. We need to do a better job at both spots. I know we will compete hard, but you need to execute to win games against good opponents, especially on the road."
 
Northwestern State has split its first two conference series – at home against Incarnate Word and on the road at Sam Houston.
 
The Demons have found success in league play with their pitching setting the tone.
 
Northwestern State has pitched to a 3.26 ERA in eight Southland games, striking out 69 hitters in 66 1-3 innings. Left-hander Cal Carver, who is set to start the opening game of Friday's doubleheader, has been particularly effective, working 13 2-3 of a possible 14 innings in his two starts.
 
Carver and right-handers Johnathan Harmon and Levi David have posted a combined 2.67 ERA in their six conference starts, striking out 38 batters in 33 2-3 innings.
 
The Demon offense has scuffled trying to find its footing in the first 22 games of the season, but a late-game push against LSUA in a 7-3 win Tuesday night may have unlocked a key for Northwestern State at the plate.
 
"We have to commit to our approach as a team," said outfielder Jeffrey Elkins, whose two-run, seventh-inning single put the Demons ahead to stay Tuesday.  "That's what we talked about after the game. It's our biggest thing. We've been pulling off lefties and righties. You see it in our team batting average. We're going to take the approach into practice (Wednesday), figure it out and have a good rest of the season."
 
Barbier echoed Elkins' thoughts with a focus on the entire roster.
 
"An approach works if you have nine guys in the lineup bought into it," he said. "If has to be a nine vs. one mentality and none one vs. one. The more guys we have bought into what we are trying to do this weekend, the more success we will have."