RUSTON – As Northwestern State kicks off the longest road trip of its 2023 baseball season, it starts with a chance for the Demons to continue to develop.
 
With the days ticking off the calendar, NSU heads to Louisiana Tech for the second game of a two-game, home-and-home season series. First pitch between the longtime rivals is set for 6 p.m. at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park. The game will air on CUSA.tv with free streaming audio provided through www.NSUDemons.com and the Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which can be downloaded free for Apple and Android devices.
 
The Demons (23-18) won the first meeting between the teams, 8-7, in 13 innings on April 4 in Natchitoches. That victory saw freshman right-hander Tyler Bryan impress with three innings of shutout relief, covering the 10^th through 12^th innings.
 
Prior to that appearance, Bryan had worked more than one inning only once in his first six career appearances. Since then, Bryan has worked multiple innings in three of his past four innings and spun a scoreless inning of relief against Nicholls on Sunday in his most recent outing.
 
"It's not only about the experience, but it's learning things you think that will help you later on – namely preparing for tournament baseball," assistant head coach Chris Bertrand said. "It's nice to know those guys are back there and they have experience in high-leverage situations. It's twofold – it's about experience but learning things – bullpen arms, substitutions, things that help you build toward tournament baseball."
 
While Bryan kept Louisiana Tech (22-23) off the scoreboard in April, it was not his collegiate debut.
 
One player who did take the field for the first time in a Demon uniform that night was redshirt freshman infielder Hayden Knotts, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in extra innings.
 
Knotts did not get an at-bat against the Bulldogs, but he did in NSU's most recent mid-week game – this past Wednesday's loss at UL Lafayette. Pinch-hitting in the eighth inning, Knotts worked his way back from a 1-2 count to deliver an RBI single on a full-count pitch.
 
Knotts, a Bossier City native, made his Southland Conference debut Sunday against Nicholls as a defensive replacement at third base and nearly turned in a highlight-reel play in the field.
 
"He made two really nice plays with the glove," Bertrand said. "Both of his at-bats, he's been really balanced and had some good at-bats."
 
The teams will each start a right-handed pitcher as Ethan Francis (1-0, 6.75) takes the mound for the Demons against Louisiana Tech's Reed Smith (2-3, 8.84). Smith started the April 4 game in Natchitoches, allowing four runs (three earned) and taking a no decision.