Trojans Head to Natchitoches for First Road Games of 2023

GAMES 15-17 | Northwestern State
Dates/Times	Friday, Mar. 17 - 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 18 - 2 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 19 - 1 p.m.
Location	Natchitoches, La.
Field	Brown-Stroud Field
Records	Little Rock (9-5, 0-0 OVC) Northwestern State (10-6, 0-0 SLC)
Watch	Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Live Stats	StatBroadcast Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Twitter	@LittleRockBSB
Series	Northwestern State leads, 27-19
Game Notes	N/A

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – After a start to the season that has included fourteen consecutive home games, the Trojans will finally leave the Natural State and head to Natchitoches, Louisiana to take on Northwestern state. The three game series begins on Friday at Brown-Stroud Field with a first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
Last Time Out
On Tuesday, the Memphis paid a visit to Gary Hogan Field to take on the Trojans in a midweek matchup. Little Rock lost the game by a score of 2-3 in a game that went down to the wire. The difference in the game was capitalizing with runners in scoring position as the Trojans stranded nine runners on the afternoon. Ty Rhoades picked up his first collegiate homerun with a two run shot that tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, but Little Rock would let up one run in the top of the eighth and was unable to overcome the deficit in the last two innings. The loss dropped the Trojans record to 9-5 on the year.
 
Scouting the Demons
Northwestern State enters the weekend with an overall record of 10-6 and is currently riding a five game winning streak with two midweek wins over ULM and a series sweep of Alabama State. The Demons have played well at home so far this season, compiling a record of 7-2 in games played at Brown-Stroud Field. Pitching has been a strong aspect of the team so far this season, the Demons boast a 3.52 team ERA with a batting average against of just .198. In addition, the pitching staff does not give up many free bases with a 4.27/1 strikeout to walk ratio. Cal Carver has been especially impressive on the mound; the senior left-hander has an ERA of just 0.70 and a batting average against sitting at a mark of .118.
 
Series History
The Trojans and the Demons have a significant history between the two programs, with Northwestern State currently leading the series at 27-19. Little Rock won the first ever matchup between the two on April 13, 1979, by a score of 2-0. Most recently, the Demons took a series in 2019, winning on March 1 before the teams split a Saturday doubleheader the next day. In the latest win for Little Rock, Jose Torres made the start and allowed just one run over six innings pitched while Ryan Benavidez knocked three doubles in the 7-5 win.
 
Three Things to Know

• The games in Natchitoches will be Little Rocks first time away from Gary Hogan Field in this 2023 season. The Trojans began the year with 14 consecutive home games due to cancelations of trips down to Pine Bluff
• Prior to coming to Little Rock in 2014, head coach Chris Curry spent time at Northwestern State as the pitching coach for the Demons. His Trojan squads have since faced off against Northwestern State in eight games.
• Sophomore Nico Baumbach continues to lead the OVC in total homeruns with seven on the season. The Euless, Texas native also ranks in the top five in slugging percentage as well as OPS.

Projected Starters
The expected pitching rotation for this weekend's series is as follows:
 

• Friday, March 10: RHP Hoss Brewer (LR) vs. LHP Cal Carver (NSU)
• Saturday, March 11: RHP Jackson Wells (LR) vs. RHP Alex Makarewich (NSU)
• Sunday, March 12: RHP Preston Davis (LR) vs. RHP Drayton Brown (NSU)

 
For the latest information on Little Rock Baseball, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockBSB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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