The Bearkats bring a seven-game winning streak into Thursday's contest. The streak started with a victory in the final game of the series with first place Texas State and includes a road sweep of UTSA and home non-conference wins over Houston Baptist, Prairie View and Dallas Baptist.

During the winning streak, Sam Houston has outscored its opponents 62 runs to 43 and posted a .352 team batting average. Designated hitter Chris Andreas has hit .531 and outfielder Mark Hudson .516 during the seven-game run. The team has combined for 14 doubles, two triples and seven home runs since the Texas State victory.

The success the past two weeks has put Sam Houston in fourth place in the Southland Conference race with a 6-3 league mark. Texas State and Southeastern Louisiana are tied for the top spot, both with 7-2 records. Stephen F. Austin is in third at 6-2.

Northwestern State stands 16-7 for the season and is in seventh place in the league race this spring with a 4-4 mark. The Demons are 11-3 at home in Natchitoches.

Since upsetting No. 21 ranked Texas A&M 4-2 on March 23, the Demons have lost three of their last four games.

Chase Lyles (.351) and Tyler Baisley (.346) are Northwestern State's top hitters.

"The last couple of weeks we've been able to put together hits for big innings," Sam Houston head coach Mark Johnson said. "Earlier in the year, we were getting the hits but just couldn't get them at the right time. This young squad definitely is not a finished product, but we're making strides every week. We are looking forward to another competitive series at Northwestern State."

Sam Houston will play a single game with Northwestern State on both Friday and Saturday and return to Huntsville for Easter Sunday. The series with the Demons starts a four-game road swing for Sam Houston.

Next home action at Don Sanders Stadium for the Bearkats will be a Southland Conference series with McNeese State beginning Friday night, March 9.

Tickets for Sam Houston State baseball home games are on sale online at www.gobearkats.com. All Sam Houston students, faculty and staff receive free admission with their SHSU BearkatOne I.D. cards. For $2, students and faculty/staff can upgrade their seats with  reserved chairback seat. Offer is available at the ticket booth the day of the game.

Bearkat fans will have the opportunity to purchase reserved section chairback tickets for only $2 during the special online only "Opening Day Sale" Monday April 5 through April 7.

For more information on the "Opening Day Sale" or other exciting offers like the "Friday Family Pack Tickets" or "Super Tuesday" Mini-Pack Tickets, go to the "Opening Day Sale" link or contact the Sam Houston State ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.

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