NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State baseball team's busiest week of the 2024 season thus far has one common theme running through it – the Sun Belt Conference.
 
Starting Tuesday at 6 p.m. when the Demons host ULM on ESPN+, they face six straight games against Sun Belt foes. That stretch of games includes Wednesday's matchup at UL Lafayette (6 p.m.) and a three-game home weekend series against Troy from Friday through Sunday.
 
NSU (2-5) concludes its trek through the SBC a week from Wednesday at home against the Ragin' Cajuns.
 
"We set out to challenge ourselves when we put the schedule together," first-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. "We understand what is before us. Our team welcomes the challenge. Our team welcomes the competition. We get to continue to test ourselves and see if the work we're putting in, the improvements we're making, the learning that we're trying to accomplish is all worth it.
 
"We know that it is, but it's a way for us to physically test it."
 
Northwestern State split a four-game weekend trip to Baton Rouge, going 1-1 against both Northern Illinois and Stony Brook.
 
The common theme in the four games was execution. When the Demons executed well, they picked up wins in their first games against each opponent. When the Demons failed to execute as well in the final two games, the results flipped.
 
"We have everything we need to be a great and competitive ball club," Bertrand said. "We need to execute a little better. When you guys on a baseball field physically execute better, it provides a blueprint. It provides hope. It provides a model for us to reach for, and once we do it as a group, special things can happen."
 
As the Demons get set for their first five-game week of the season, senior catcher Bo Willis has been the engine driving a Demon offense that averages more than seven runs per game.
 
Willis has hit safely in all seven games and leads the Southland Conference in RBIs (14), having driven in a run in each game. As a team, the Demons enter this week hitting .326, which ranks 43^rd nationally.
 
ULM comes into Tuesday's matchup after dropping two of three games to Murray State this past weekend in Monroe.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns (4-3) also dropped two of three games this weekend to Rice after taking two of three from Wright State on opening weekend.
 
"Every time we lace 'em up and put Demons across our chest, every one of these opportunities is a great one," Bertrand said. "We get to do it against quality men and against quality opponents that will test us from a baseball standpoint. The amount of respect we have for (ULM coach Mike Fed(erico) and the job he has done – we know he's going to bring a competitive club in here. Then we go to Lafayette on Wednesday. Their reputation speaks for itself and the type of ball club coach (Matt) Deggs. We get to test ourselves against a different style of baseball. They're very disciplined at the plate. They can drop a bunt for a hit at anytime. They have some power. They have tremendous baserunning. Their style and brand of baseball allows us to test ourselves in a multitude of ways."
 
Probable Pitchers
Tuesday: ULM LHP Brandt Corley (0-0, 21.60) at Northwestern State RHP Aidan Newton (0-0, 8.31)
Wednesday: NSU RHP Tyler Nichol (0-0, 9.00) at UL Lafayette RHP Murphy Brooks (season debut)