We're seeing something we haven't seen in baseball, development throughout the year. The team has genuinely been getting better and more consistent.

And what an opportunity to finish out the season strong with a possible sweep of UIW, going into the off season 7-3 in the final 10 games, a season highlighted by wins at Lamar, at Abilene Christian, at Tarleton State, New Orleans, Northwestern State, and a series win at McNeese, yes the program is headed in the right direction, as SFA's RPI has improved from #250 (out of 307) to #218 in the last few days.

SLC Baseball RPI Rankings (out of 307 Division I Teams)

#31 UTRGV (Up from #34)
#48 Southeastern Louisiana (up from #56)
#58 Lamar (Up from #59)
#68 McNeese (down from #48)
#79 Northwestern State (No movement)
#101 New Orleans (Up from #103)
#116 Houston Christian (down from #107)
#185 Texas A&M CC (down from #184)
#204 Nicholls (down from #198)
#212 UIW (down from #207)
#218 SFA (Up from #250)

I think that the team has shown resolution to being a TEAM.

If they would have won 1/2 of the games that they "could" have, you're looking at what might be a 20-25 record right now, and then w/ a sweep of the last series vs. IW, 23-25. I'd say that it great improvement for a TEAM that was basically put together in the last 18 months (or less for some kids).

Be interesting what the portal brings, and hopefully does not take away.

Very true, SFA was either in the lead or tied going into the 7th inning or later 10 times this season.

If they can take 1/2 of the bolded games and convert them to wins just by understanding on how to win close games. That adds 5 games to win total.

Get a few of the other close games, and this season could have EASILY been a great success. "it all evens out" eventually, but this year, sometimes we were our own worst enemy. Gotta learn to just get out of your own way.

Sometimes the offense had a chance to extend the lead, and couldn't get it done. Other times it was pitching missing that shut down inning or two that gave the offense a chance to continue the momentum.

Those that could have been different (THE HCU GAMES WERE PAINFUL)

Purdue G1 - Tied 1-1 after 6. Lost 4-1
Purdue G2 - Tied 2-2 after 7 1/2 Lost 4-2
Baylor - up 4-3 after 5 1/2. Lost 9-4
New Orleans G1 - Up 2-1 after 7. Lost 3-2
New Orleans G3 - Down 3-2 after 5. Lost 3-2
Lamar G1 - Down 2-0 after 4. Lost 2-0
Lamar G3 - Down 3-1 after 5. Lost 3-2
SLU G1 - Up 3-0 after 4. Lost 4-3
Tarleton G1 - Up 7-6 after 7 1/2. Lost 14-8
HCU G1 - Tied 4-4 after 7 1/2. Lost 6-4
HCU G2 - Up 8-7 after 7 1/2. Lost 12-8
HCU G3 - Up 4-3 after 7 1/2. Lost 6-4.
TACC G2 - Up 3-2 after 7. Lost 8-5 in 16.
TACC G3 - Tied 4-4 after 7. Lost 6-4
NWS - G3 - Up 5-4 after 7. Lost 7-5


Those that got out of hand against us

Purdue G3 - Down 6-0 after 1, Lose 14-2
Purdue G4 - Down 12-1 after 3, but fight back and have tying run at plate in top of 9. Lose 16-12
Lamar G2 - Down 8-2 after 4. Lose 9-3
ACU G1 - Down 8-2 after 6. Lose 11-2
SEU G2 - Down 10-0 after 6 1/2. Lose 16-3
SEU G3 - Down 8-0 after 4. Lose 10-0
UH - Down 7-2 after 6. Lose 9-2
ULM - Down 7-2 after 5. Lose 8-4.
UTRGV G1 - Down 7-0 after 4. Lose 7-2
UTRGV G3 - Down 7-0 after 3. Lose 12-2
NWS G1 - Down 8-2 after 6. Lose 12-2
McNeese G2 - Down 8-1 after 3. Lose 12-2

Those that got out of hand early for us

UAPB G1 - Up 7-3 after 6. Win 13-3
UAPB G2 - Up 6-0 after 5. Hold on to win 7-6
UAPB G3 - Up 9-0 after 3. Win 13-6
New Orleans G2 - Up 14-2 after 5. Win 14-4
ACU G2 - Up 9-1 after 1. Win 15-13
McNesee G3 - Up 8-0 after 4. Win 10-3.

Wrapping up our time at home.

SFA Vs. UIW
⏰ : 6:05 PM CST
📍 : Pilgrim's Park
🎥 : https://t.co/PxKgt2P9yS
📊 : https://t.co/hypKS9hdnN
🎟️ : https://t.co/j87nEepiZK#AxeEm pic.twitter.com/btZStMb33d

— Lumberjack Baseball (@SFA_Baseball) May 8, 2025

SFA (15-31; 6-21) vs. UIW (17-30; 3-24)

May 8 (Thurs.) 6:00 P.M.
May 9 (Fri.) 3:00 P.M.
May 10 (Sat.) 1:00 P.M.
Pilgrim's Park
ESPN+

Baseball History vs Stephen F. Austin from Feb 16, 2014 - Apr 3, 2021

SFA leads the overall series 10-8 and has won 3 of the last 4 meetings, in those three wins SFA won with a combined score of 36-2.

The Cardinals of UIW have had a rough season to say the least, now in last place in the standings and struggling greatly at pitching, as they have the SLC's worst ERA at 8.45, while giving up 400 runs and walking 253 batters with a batting average against at .320.

UIW fairs much better with their starting lineup, having one of the best in the conference, second only to UTRGV in fielding percentage at (.975), and third in home runs (56).

That lineup is highlighted by INF #14 Rob Liddington, the 6-3; 220 senior out of Phoenix, Arizona, with a batting average of .363 (5th in the conference) 69 hits (4th), 48 runs (5th), 12 doubles, 5 triples (2nd) and 13 home runs (3rd).

SFA ace Cody Templeton looks for his final start of the season, 2nd in the conference with 78.2 innings pitched, and leads the conference in the least amount of walks allowed (11)

Not one, but two Cedar Park Timberwolves in this one, Texas State transfer #4 Ryder Hernandez for UIW and Julian Swift for the Jacks

Let's finish Lumberjack strong!

Axe'EM

Thanks for all you do "93". Love all the time you put into Lumberjack Baseball.

I'm only a couple years from retirement, so hopefully I'll be getting to SFA baseball games soon.

2-1 SFA going into the 3rd.

Got two games going on my TV right now, SFA/UIW and Northeast Texas/Wharton both white versus red teams.

Northeast Texas is in the Region 14 Tournament right now as the #2 and up 2-0 in the bottom of the 2nd.

Ironically the starting pitcher for Wharton is Harrison Wall who is from Mt. Pleasant where NTCC is located (outside of Mt. Pleasant actually, very country) and Harrison was originally a SFA commit but due to coaching changes decommited. The Dirty Birds are pushing him around pretty good right now.

Oh wow, did you see that catch out in center field by Bland?

What a leap and snag, wow, get Sports Center on the horn.

lol they just put up the SCTop 10 logo

2-1 bottom of the 4th SFA

T4 | CERMODRICK BLAND WITH A CATCH OF THE YEAR NOMINEE! 🫨

@ESPNAssignmentDesk x @SouthlandSports#AxeEm x #SCTopTen pic.twitter.com/wftqarabQ0

— Lumberjack Baseball (@SFA_Baseball) May 9, 2025

Boyett in trouble with bases loaded with 2 outs.

2-2 in the 5th

back to back full counts turn to runs.

That hurt

5-2 UIW

Finally got out of the but the damage is done, got to make up some runs.

5-2 UIW
bottom of the 5th

GRAND SLAM by the Timberwolf Julian Swift!

6-5 SFA

It doesn't matter who you pitch to 🤷‍♂️

Julian Swift with the GRAND SLAM on the first pitch after an intentional walk.#AxeEm pic.twitter.com/fN3QQFdFLn

— Lumberjack Baseball (@SFA_Baseball) May 9, 2025

to the 6th

6-5 SFA

Boyett done with 6K's and 3 walks.

#18 Kadin Munson (Jr.) on the mound

And quickly UIW has runners in scoring position at 2nd and 3rd with no outs

UIW with the sac fly

6-6 1 out

7-6 UIW on a blooper to center field

still 2 outs


mound visit

Munson is done.

#35 Jack James (Jr.) on the mound.

So many full counts that south in this one for the Jacks.

UIW hitting everything now

9-6 UIW in the 6th

still 2 outs

bottom of the 6th

10-6 UIW

2 now on for the Jacks at 1st and 2nd with no outs.

Bland with the RBI double

10-7 UIW

runner on at 2nd and 3rd

1 out

3 run shot by Ibe, it gone!

You knew it as soon as he hit it.

10-10

B6 | Josh Ibe doing what he does 😮‍💨

SFA: 10
UIW: 10#AxeEm pic.twitter.com/l9qySboyio

— Lumberjack Baseball (@SFA_Baseball) May 9, 2025

2 a board for the Jacks (1st and 2nd) with 2 outs

balk runners advance

bases loaded for SFA

pitching change for UIW

2 runs score, as a Jack is tagged at 3rd.

12-10 SFA

to the 7th

#43 Hayden Tronson (Jr.) on the mound and quickly 2 runners on for UIW no outs