Demons head to UCA for first road trip of 2026

Northwestern State baseball team opens four-game series against former Southland rival Central Arkansas

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Northwestern State baseball team, off to a 4-0 start, hits the road for the first time in 2026 with a four-game weekend series at Central Arkansas. The Demons, who have rallied from late deficits three times this season, will face a Bears squad that split its season-opening series against ULM. This marks the lone scheduled four-game series of the season for Northwestern State.

Why it matters

The Demons' first road trip of the season will provide valuable experience as they prepare for potential doubleheaders and postseason play later in the year. Northwestern State and Central Arkansas have a long-standing rivalry from their time together in the Southland Conference, adding extra significance to the matchup.

The details

Northwestern State has jumped out to a 4-0 start, showcasing the ability to win close games with strong pitching as well as high-scoring affairs. Central Arkansas, meanwhile, split its opening series against ULM, winning the middle games but dropping the bookend contests. The Demons will send four different starting pitchers to the mound over the four-game set, while the Bears will counter with a mix of returning starters and a to-be-determined fourth game starter.

  • The series begins on Friday, February 19, 2026 at 4 p.m.
  • Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for a 12 p.m. start.
  • The series finale is set for Sunday, February 21, 2026 at 1 p.m.

The players

Northwestern State

The Demons baseball team, off to a 4-0 start in the 2026 season, are making their first road trip of the year to face former Southland Conference rival Central Arkansas.

Central Arkansas

The Bears baseball team, who split their season-opening series against ULM, will host Northwestern State in a four-game weekend series.

Bobby Bertrand

The third-year head coach of the Northwestern State Demons baseball team.

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What they’re saying

“I'm really happy with what we have discovered about our ball club over the first four games. We've learned so much about how to get in a rhythm and a flow. We've learned about guys coming off the bench. We've learned quite a bit about our pitching staff. We've learned we haven't necessarily played our best brand of basketball from a physical execution standpoint, but we are exhibiting some pretty cool characteristics that we want to be cornerstones of our culture.”

— Bobby Bertrand, Head Coach, Northwestern State (nsudemons.com)

“Again, we check that box of another lesson learned by the time we get to the end of the weekend. That's why we do a lot of this stuff. You deal with it in the moment and how it presents itself. However, the long-term goal and vision is that we want to take every opportunity and every experience and pull value from it and use that value down the line. In the conference tournament model we have – and in the way when we get this program to where it needs to be and we're able to play in a (national) postseason – you're looking at a Saturday or a Sunday doubleheader. Some of those things are going to pay dividends later on.”

— Bobby Bertrand, Head Coach, Northwestern State (nsudemons.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.