SFA (11-7; 4-2) vs. Southeastern Louisiana (9-8; 2-1)

WHEN: Mar. 13; 6:00 P.M./Mar. 14; 2:00 P.M./Mar. 15; 1:00 P.M.
WHERE: Hammond, Louisiana (Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field)
TV: ESPN+

1st Place Southland Conference Showdown with SFA on the road in Hammond to take on the defending SLC Champions Southeastern Louisiana Lions.

The Lions have dominated this series 33-11 overall, includes 11-4 at home, and 8 straight victories against the Jacks.

Key hitters for SFA include Julian Swift (.389), Jhett Creel (.379), and Ethan Pena (.368), who have been instrumental in keeping the Lumberjacks near the top of the conference standings. 1st Baseman Mark Henning has be hot of late, with back to back games with a HR, and has moved into second on the team with 19 runs and 3rd in RBI's at 15.

SLU is coming off a 10-3 loss to South Alabama on Wednesday, which snapped a five-game winning streak. Despite the midweek loss, SLU is dangerous at home and is led at the plate by Giovanni Licciardi (.339) and Ben Robichaux (.339).

Both bullpens will be tested following midweek games against high-major opponents.

Look for SFA pitching ace Cody Templeton to take the mound today posting an ERA of 2.86 with 2 wins, no loses, 1.36 WHIP, team leading 23 K's in 22 innings of pitching.

SLU will go with the Blake Lobell, Lakin Polk, and Brady St. Pierre rotation.

The Jacks are going for their 5th straight conference series win dating back to last season, and I don't know the last time, if ever that SFA has won 5 straight conference series.

Axe'Em

My division one school SFA is in first place, but my JUCO division one school Northeast Texas is also in first place in Region 14 and 13-2 in their last 15 games including sweeps of Angelina, Tyler JC, and JUCO powerhouse and college world series finalist frequent flyer Dallas College Eastfield who is currently 1st in Region 5 with a 18-6 record (2 of those 6 loses to NTCC)

It has been awhile since NTCC has been on top.

Coach Morgan has got some dudes this season and I hope SFA is taking notice of the Dirty Birds.

in 17 starts OF Carson Umphres 6-6; 220 freshman from Great Bend, Kansas, (.290) 15 runs on 16 hits, 3 doubles, 5 HR's, 21 RBI's, .607 SLG% (1.038 OPS) also pitches (was the 5A pitcher of the year in Kansas his senior year), was originally committed to East Tennessee State.

In 22 starts Division I transfer (Little Rock) 1st baseman David Sorg 6-5; 230 sophomore (.250) 12 runs on 18 hits, 6 doubles, 2 HR's, 18 RBI's .411 SLG% (.800 OPS)

OF Joshua Staten 6-2; 200 sophomore (.240) 23 starts 23 runs on 18 hits, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 5 HR's, 21 RBI's, 7 SB, .553 SLG% (.890 OPS)

The team as a whole has 23 HR's 40 doubles, 5 triples, 147 RBI's (the lineup has a .480 SLG% average)

And pitching Tanner Webb 6-4; 230 freshman from Benton, Louisiana 4.21 ERA, 25.2 innings pitched team leading 36 K's, and Kaleb Kuhn 6-0; 190 sophomore from Columbus, Texas ERA 3.33, 27 innings (1 CG) pitched, 35 K's, 5-3 W-L combined, whole starting rotation 8-4

SLU having no problems with the Jacks, St. Pierrie in the zone with 9 K's and pitching a shutout (only 1 hit allowed) after 7 innings, Lions up 6-0.

Gabriel LeBlanc got the start for the Jacks went 4 innings gave up 5 runs off of 10 hits, 4 K's and walked 1. Brennan Greer in relief 1 K, 2 walks, 1 run off of 1 hit and 2 walks.

Charlie Feris now in

Lions put 2 more up with a 2 run homer, now 8-0 SLU in the bottom of the 7th.

SLU finally goes to their bull pen and #2 Ethan Adkisson (Sr.) gets a triple and then scores on #8 Rodrick Black (Sr.) ground out to 1st.

8-1 SLU

Double play for SFA!

Jacks down to their last 3 outs

Feris gets 2 K's, that's 7 for SFA pitching.

Creel, Swift, and Henning up

Creel strikes out, Swift doubles to right field, that just missed going over the wall.

Hennings goes down swinging (11th K for SLU)

Pena pops foul out, ball game

SLU takes game one 8-1 with a very impressive pitching display holding the Jack lineup to 3 hits.