Stephen F. Austin Sweeps Mississippi Valley State in Opening Day Doubleheader

Stephen F. Austin defeated Mississippi Valley State in a doubleheader on opening day at Pilgrim’s Park in Nacogdoches, Texas. The Lumberjacks won the first game 17-2 and the second 15-3, each lasting seven innings. The series marks the Lumberjacks’ 13th consecutive victory over the Delta Devils since 2006, with Stephen F. Austin now leading the series 3-1.

In the first game, Eric Williams led Mississippi Valley State with five hits in four at-bats, including an RBI single and a double. Fellow veteran Chris Soeder added two singles and an RBI. Cody Leming doubled, Tanner Aoki was hit by a pitch and reached base twice, and Jaxon Haynes delivered a pinch-hit single. On the mound, Kobe Ladd threw two scoreless innings with a strikeout, the only Mississippi Valley pitcher to not allow a run in either game.

Williams continued his strong day in the second game, finishing with two hits out of three at-bats. Johnny Escobalez Jr. struck out all three batters he faced in one inning. Leming stole a base, walked, scored a run, and contributed offensively from the nine-hole. Aoki added a hit, walk, run scored, and RBI, reaffirming his recent All-SWAC First Team status. Haynes recorded his first multi-RBI game of 2026, driving in two runs with a two-bagger.

Mississippi Valley State, now 0-2 overall, will look to bounce back with a game scheduled Saturday at 1 p.m. The team’s social media accounts include Twitter and Instagram handles @ValleyStateBSB and @ValleyStateAthletics.

Source: Original Article