CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Northwestern State baseball team jumps back into Southland Conference play this weekend, opening a season-long, seven-game road trip.
 
The Demons carry with them the momentum of a five-game win streak – all of which came during a five-game homestand that ended Tuesday with an 11-1, run-rule win against Grambling.
 
As Northwestern (9-7, 3-3) starts a three-game Southland series at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (7-11, 0-3) at 6 p.m. Friday at Chapman Field, it does so looking to take not only the good feelings from the homestand but also lessons learned from previous road trips at then-No. 24 Troy and Southeastern Louisiana.
 
This weekend's series also includes a Saturday 2 p.m. matchup and a 1 p.m. Sunday matinee. All three games are available through ESPN+.
 
"We're looking forward to what the challenge brings us," second-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. "Another road trip, another lengthy road trip. Our guys getting acclimated to that stuff. Playing on a natural surface and adjusting to that. Playing in what we're assuming will be a very windy atmosphere and higher temperatures. There are plenty of lessons to be learned, and we're hopeful we can bring the execution and brand of baseball that has taken place as of late and put those together."
 
While the Demon infielders will play on a natural surface for the first time this season, there is a streak that remains alive for the Northwestern offense.
 
For the third time in as many Southland Conference series, the Demons will face one of the three preseason first-team all-conference starting pitchers. This time, it is Islander left-hander Zach Garcia (2-1), who joined Southeastern Louisiana right-hander Brennan Stuprich and UIW left-hander Josh Salinas on the preseason all-conference team.
 
Northwestern split its games against the other two first-teamers, falling to Stuprich and the Lions two weeks ago before outlasting Salinas and UIW in a 5-4, 10-inning win this past Friday.
 
"We saw him on Sunday in our series last year at home," Bertrand said. "With the number of returners we have, we can pull form last year's appearance, pull from what we've learned so far this year and pull from the research and what we're doing to prepare for it. Three quality No. 1s in a row speaks the parity there is. It speaks to the evolution of how everybody on every night has to be ready to go. We welcome that challenge."
 
During its five-game homestand that included an SLC sweep of UIW and midweek wins against LeTourneau and Grambling, Northwestern averaged 10.2 runs per game while holding its three opponents to an average of 2.8 runs per game.
 
The Demon offense has scored in double figures seven times in 10 games at Brown-Stroud Field this season. In its first six road games, Northwestern has cracked 10 runs once – in a 14-12 loss at Troy on Feb. 22.
 
"We have made the effort to be consistent in the way we've spent the first 15 to 16 games of the season," Bertrand said. "Now it's time to turn the corner and become the hunters, become the type of baseball team that, on a day-to-day basis, plays the type of baseball it's capable of playing. We know what our strengths are and continue to work toward mending the weaknesses."
 
Series Probables
Friday: Northwestern State RHP Dylan Marionneaux (0-2, 3.95) at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi LHP Zach Garcia (2-1, 3.44)
Saturday: Northwestern State RHP Tyler Bryan (1-1, 7.85) at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi RHP Bryson Shea (1-1, 4.26)
Sunday: Northwestern State RHP Trent Hillen (2-1, 4.87) at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi TBD