EDINBURG, Texas – The second half of the Northwestern State baseball team's Southland Conference schedule takes the Demons somewhere the program has never played a conference game.
 
The Demons will make their Southland debut at UTGRV Baseball Stadium at 6:30 p.m. Thursday when they take on UTRGV in the opener of a three-game conference series, which also includes a 6:30 p.m. Friday matchup and a 1 p.m. Saturday series finale.
 
All three games will air on ESPN+ with free streaming audio available through www.NSUDemons.com and the Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which can be downloaded free for Apple and Android devices.
 
The last time Northwestern (18-10, 10-5) played in Edinburg came in 2014 when the Demons took part in the Al Ogletree Classic.
 
"We are looking forward to the opportunity," third-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. "We understand the challenges that come with lengthy travel. We've been preparing for the environment. We know it's going to be an incredible environment and will be packed. We're looking forward to the competition against such an amazing baseball team. We know we're in for three battles against a quality team."
 
The homestanding Vaqueros (14-15, 9-6) have helped turn the UTRGV Baseball Stadium into one of the most intimidating venues in the conference.
 
A season ago, UTRGV posted a 20-8 mark at home, including 12-3 in league play as it shared the conference crown in its first Southland season.
 
While the Demons have not traveled to Edinburg in more than a decade, assistant coach Dylan Belanger has as part of a Stephen F. Austin staff that shared a Western Athletic Conference rivalry with UTRGV. Belanger has been a sounding board as the current Northwestern squad prepares for its maiden voyage to Edinburg.
 
"You lean on every bit of information you can, especially in Dylan's case with the way he's able to pass down information that helps set the message for preparation," Bertrand said. "The information gives you learning experiences you can pass along and be the most prepared you are. We're going to have to be well prepared, and we're going to have be at your best.
 
"We're going to have to overcome the things that are challenging because of the baseball team that is going to be staring you down. We lean on everybody, especially Dylan, in the way that we can learn and teach the message so that, hopefully, by the time we arrive, we're well-prepared mentally."
 
To add to the Demons' first conference trip to Edinburg, it comes on a short week with a Thursday-Saturday series ahead of Easter.
 
Northwestern will stick with the same rotation it has used in the past three series – freshman left-hander Brody Trosclair (4-1, 1.36), junior right-hander Dylan Marionneaux (2-2, 5.01) and senior right-hander Trent Hillen (2-1, 5.31).  That trio all will work with one day less rest than in a typical week.
 
"It's a talking point that's worth talking about," Bertrand said. "You have that as an element, as a circumstance, of your preparation. All the confidence in the world in (pitching coach) Dan (Hlad) and in those guys in getting it done. It needs to be stated that, to this point, our success has been because of how well we have thrown the baseball and how well they have overcome each step of adversity along the way."
 
A season ago, the Demons took two of three games from the Vaqueros, who made their first trip as SLC members to Natchitoches. All three games were taught affairs with one run separating the teams during the series.
 
"You learned exactly what they're going to roll out – the collection of talent and how very well-coached and well-prepared they will be," Bertrand said. "They've played the 16^th-toughest schedule in the country, so you throw all the numbers out the window and look at how battle tested they are. When you mix that with the amount of talent and the supremely talented coaching they have, this is one where we're going to have be at our best.
 
"Regardless of where it's played and the names and faces, we have to know what the challenge and mission is, and we have to do everything we can to overcome."
 
Series Probables:
Thursday: Northwestern State LHP Brody Trosclair (4-1, 1.36) at UTRGV RHP Sergio Lopez (2-3, 5.91)
Friday: Northwestern State RHP Dylan Marionneaux (2-2, 5.01) at UTRGV RHP Carlos Vallejo (0-1, 2.60)
Saturday: Northwestern State RHP Trent Hillen (2-1, 5.31) at UTRGV RHP Kike Cienfuegos (4-1, 5.14)