Lumberjacks Drop First Two Games of 2025 Season

Friday, February 14

Sugar Land, TX

1:00 P.M.

Stephen F. Austin

0-1

Purdue University

1-0

Stephen F. Austin

Purdue

Lumberjacks Drop First Two Games of 2025 Season

2/14/2025 6:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Eli Standley, Graduate Assistant for Strategic Communications

SUGAR LAND, Texas - The SFA Lumberjacks opened their 2025 season with a doubleheader vs. Purdue in Sugar Land, Texas, at Constellation Field and dropped a 4-1 decision in game one and a 4-2 loss in game two.

Game 1

The 'Jacks started the first game of the season on a positive note, as Cemodrick Bland led off the game with a single and Dalton Mullins doubled down the left field line. Despite their quick start, SFA was unable to score. In the second inning, the 'Jacks once again threatened, loading the bases with no outs, but Purdue pitcher Carter Doorne was able to escape with three strikeouts to stop the Lumberjacks from scoring.

Lumberjacks starter Dylan Mulcahy had a much cleaner start to his game, as he retired the first eight Boilermakers he faced. In the third inning, the 'Jacks were finally able to open the scoring. Ben Hoshizaki led off the inning with a walk, and Dalton Mullins continued his hot start to the season with a single up the middle. Dante Turgeon would then ground into a double play, scoring Hoshizaki to give the Lumberjacks a 1-0 lead.

Purdue was able to strike back in the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1. The score remained the same for the next couple of innings as Mulcahy and Hayden Tronson were able to keep the Purdue bats quiet, in part due to some great defensive plays from SFA shortstop Austin Cadroy and right fielder Cemodrick Bland.

In the bottom of the seventh, Purdue would gain their first lead of the game when Albert Choi lined a ball to center to score Ty Gill, giving the Boilermakers a 2-1 lead. The Lumberjacks were unable to score in the top of the eighth. The Boilermakers extended their lead in the bottom of the eighth with a pair of solo home runs by Logan Sutter and Sergio DeCello and now led 4-1.

In the bottom of the ninth, despite getting two players on base, the Lumberjacks were unable to generate a rally. Purdue would go on to win 4-1 in game one.

Michael Vallone (1-0) picked up the win for the Boilermakers, while Hayden Tronson (0-1) was credited with the loss.

Game 2

The Lumberjacks started game two the same way they started game one, scoring early. After a scoreless first inning, one-out singles by River Curs and Kevin Duran set up a scoring opportunity, and the 'Jacks would strike first on a wild pitch and error from Purdue, scoring Curs and giving the Lumberjacks a 1-0 advantage.

Lumberjacks starter Cody Templeton would keep the Purdue bats quiet through the first three innings, but in the fourth, Purdue would take the lead with two runs.

The score would remain the same through seven innings, as Templeton had very little trouble attacking the Boilermakers lineup. He would finish his day with six innings pitched, two unearned runs, and 4 strikeouts. Blaine Zeplin would come on in the seventh and pitch a scoreless inning.

In the eighth, the Lumberjacks would strike back. Josh Ibe would lead off the inning with a hit by pitch, followed by singles from Ben Hoshizaki and Jackson Bennatar, loading the bases for Mark Henning. Henning would be hit by a pitch, scoring Bland, who pinch ran for Ibe and tied the game at 2-2. Purdue was able to get out of the inning with a double play. In the bottom half of the inning, Purdue would break the tie with multiple two-out RBI singles, giving Purdue a 4-2 heading to the 9th inning.

In the ninth, the 'Jacks would get a player on first courtesy of a hit by pitch but weren't able to manufacture any more offense. Purdue would go on to a 4-2 win.

Justin Guiliano (1-0) picked up the win for Purdue, and Blaine Zeplin (0-1) took the loss.

Top performers for the 'Jacks
Cody Templeton - 6 IP, 0 earned runs, 4 strikeouts.
Dylan Mulcahy - 4 IP, 1 earned run, 3 strikeouts.
Dalton Mullins - 3 for 8, double
Mark Henning - 3 for 8, RBI

The Lumberjacks will take on Purdue tomorrow at 6 P.M. Trent Nickerson is in line to get the start.

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