NATCHITOCHES – After 17 games on the road to start the season, Northwestern State brings an even greater level of excitement and enthusiasm into its 2024 home opener on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Demons (8-9) and first-year head coach Lacy Prejean will take the field for the first time at the Demon Diamond on Tuesday when it faces rival Stephen F. Austin in the second of two doubleheaders between the teams. 
 
First pitch of the home opening double dip is set for 3 p.m. with both games airing live on ESPN+. Kids 12 and under will be admitted for free for both games. Tickets are available at the gate or by visiting nsutickets.com.
 
"Definitely excited to see the fans and sleep in our own beds the night before and have our normal routines leading up to the game," Prejean said. "Playing in front of our fans, our families, our friends, it's going to be a great experience and just ready to show up ready to go."
 
NSU enters this midweek tilt with the rival Lumberjacks (4-11) with a far different level of energy than the one two weeks ago. The Demons were coming off an opening-weekend trip to San Marcos where they were shut out in their final game 1-0 by Kennesaw State. They lost the first game to SFA in extra inning before salvaging the day with a 1-0 win behind Kenzie Seely's second career shutout.
 
This week they come in after going 3-2 in ULM's Best of the Bayou Tournament where they closed the weekend with the largest comeback win in nearly 10 years to beat a Power 5 opponent and one of the highest-caliber offensive performances of the season.
 
NSU erased a six-run deficit after the first two innings to take down Syracuse 11-8 after trailing 8-5 going into the sixth innings. The senior trio of Taylor Williams, Tristin Court and Ashlyn Walker all hit their second home runs of the season to spark the rally with freshman Aly Delafield give NSU the lead in a five-run sixth on a two-out, two-run single to right.
 
"I've seen that offense and that type of power since the Fall," Prejean said. "For them to finally bring that into a game I was proud and happy for them to see that. Something else that was huge was the two-our RBIs. We have five of them in that game against Syracuse and that's what's going to get us to that next level. They've seen what they can do and I told them I hope a game like that makes them want to work even harder. You see what can happen when hard work pays off."
 
The 11 runs were the most scored in a game this season as NSU cashing in a season-high seven walks surrendered by Orange pitching in the game. It was the first win over a Power 5 opponent since 2019.
 
Following an early statement win, the Demons look to back that performance up with two quality performances against a long-time rival in their home opener. Channeling the nerves and excitement that naturally comes with the moment sits at the top of Prejean's focus list for Tuesday afternoon.
 
"It takes a fierce competitor kind of mentality to come off a big win like we had and keep punching away so to speak," Prejean said. "I'm excited to get to play at home and excited for our seniors but we're still teaching them and instilling in them that mentality of being a competitor and never letting up."
 
The goal for Tuesday according to Prejean is to come away with two wins and, "not being satisfied with just splitting," after losing the first game of the pair two weeks ago in East Texas.
 
The Lumberjacks are also coming off a win over a Power 5 opponent this past weekend when they shutout Minnesota 1-0 at the North Texas Invitational. They also picked up a run-rule win against New Mexico before dropping the weekend final 3-0 to the Mean Green.
 
A Mikaelah Burkland home run accounted for the only run of the game as starting pitcher Aydenne Brown tossed a four-hit shutout of the Gophers. Brown was outdueled by Seely in the 1-0 loss to the Demons on Feb. 13 allowing one run on four hits in the game two loss.
 
"They've gotten some quality wins since we played them the first time just like we have," Prejean said. "We watch film on everybody, so I think we are more prepared to see them again. And more than anything it's just belief. Believing that you can win, instilling that into them and putting that kind of performance on the field