Mississippi Valley State Baseball Earns First Non-Conference Division I Win Since 2017

Mississippi Valley State University’s baseball team defeated Tennessee-Martin 5-3 Tuesday, marking their first non-conference Division I win since 2017, according to the school. The last time the Diamond Devils beat an NCAA Division I opponent outside of SWAC play was Feb. 22, 2017, against Arkansas State.

The game took place at Skyhawk Field in Martin, Tennessee. Tennessee-Martin holds a 10-1 series lead over Mississippi Valley State, with their last win coming March 7, 2026. The Skyhawks entered the game with a 7-8 record, while the Diamond Devils improved to 3-10.

Jace Jones delivered a clutch performance for Mississippi Valley State, driving in the go-ahead runs with a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning. He also drew a walk and scored earlier in the game. Pitchers Kobe Ladd, Brock Lenhardt, and Gage Deutsch kept the Skyhawks’ offense silent from the fifth inning on, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out three.

Lenhardt earned his first career win at a four-year university, and Deutsch recorded his first collegiate save. Tanner Aoki led the offense with two singles and two RBIs, adding a walk and steal. Several other players, including Eric Williams, Israel Ramos, and Aiden Meyer, reached base multiple times.

Mississippi Valley State will look to secure another non-conference Division I victory when they face New Orleans on Tuesday night. The team aims to become the first in 11 years to beat two Division I non-conference opponents in the same season, last achieved in 2015 against ULM and UIC. Fans can follow the program on Twitter and Instagram at @ValleyStateBSB and @ValleyStateAthletics, respectively.

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