Preview: Stephen F. Austin at Northwestern State

NATCHITOCHES, La. (Interstat) — Stephen F. Austin (21-19) visits Northwestern State (23-18) on Saturday afternoon at H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field in Cypress, Louisiana. The game is part of a three-game Southland Conference series that began Friday.

First pitch is scheduled for time not specified under partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 83 degrees.

The Lumberjacks are looking to bounce back after being shut out 5-0 at home by Nicholls State on April 19, a game in which right-hander Dylan Mulcahy took the loss despite striking out nine over 5 2/3 innings. Mulcahy (5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 9 K) is a key arm for Stephen F. Austin, which has lost four of its last five games. In his previous start at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on April 4, he allowed four runs in five innings but did not surrender a hit. On March 29, he tossed 5 1/3 shutout innings with nine strikeouts against Houston Christian.

Northwestern State counters with Caleb Muffoletto, a right-handed pitcher who has been effective in limited recent action. In an April 21 loss to Louisiana-Monroe, Muffoletto allowed one earned run on two hits over four innings with four strikeouts. He also posted scoreless outings against Houston Christian (1 2/3 IP) and Louisiana Tech (1 1/3 IP) earlier this month.

The Demons dropped a 4-1 decision to Louisiana-Monroe on Tuesday, with Muffoletto, Chase Prestwich (4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER) and Jacob LeBlanc (0 1/3 IP, 1 H) leading the pitching staff. Northwestern State has lost six of its last seven games.

The teams met Friday, with Stephen F. Austin scoring zero runs in its only listed head-to-head result.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-2 victory for the Lumberjacks.

Stephen F. Austin’s next games include a Sunday rematch at Northwestern State, then home series against Houston (April 28) and McNeese State (May 1-3). The Lumberjacks follow with a three-game set at Incarnate Word (May 8-10).

Northwestern State also plays its series finale against the Lumberjacks on Sunday, then travels to Arkansas for a two-game midweek set (April 28-29). The Demons visit Louisiana Tech on May 5 and McNeese State on May 7-9.