LeBlanc, James Handle Nola as Jacks Take Series

Saturday, February 28

New Orleans, LA

12:00 P.M.

Stephen F. Austin

9-3, 9-3

New Orleans

4-7, 0-2

Stephen F. Austin

New Orleans

Photo by: Elysa Ripley

LeBlanc, James Handle Nola as Jacks Take Series

2/28/2026 3:06:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Pair of arms limit Privateers in game two, SFA aims for sweep on Sunday

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Gabriel LeBlanc (4.0 IP, 5H) and Jack James (5.0 IP, 4 H) combined to limit New Orleans to a single run in game two of the Southland Conference series as Stephen F. Austin backed the efforts with single runs in the fourth and sixth innings and an insurance tally on a solo blast off the bat of Ethan Peña in the ninth to win 3-1 on Saturday afternoon from Maestri Field. The Jacks improve to 9-3 overall with a 2-0 mark in SLC play, while the host Privateers fall to 4-7, 0-2.

LeBlanc went 4.0 innings dispersing five hits and using a 6-4-3 double play to end an early UNO threat in the first inning. James handled the last five frames allowing just four hits and an unearned run in the ninth as he fanned three and received a game-ending 4-6-3 double play to give the Jacks the series. A 6-3 double play lineout of the Privateers aided James in the eighth. The two combined to leave on five UNO runners including three in scoring position.

Julian Swift scored from second base in the fourth inning as Peña singled through the left side. Swift walked with one out and stole second to put himself in scoring position for Peña.

In the sixth inning, Jhett Creel walked to start the frame and moved to third with one out on a double off Swift's bat. Mark Henning plated Creel on a ground out to cushion the 1-0 lead. James then worked a seven-pitch sixth.

POSTGAME NOTES

SFA has won six-straight SLC games dating back to last season
The Jacks take over the lead in the all-time series with the Privateers at 11-10 and win their third-straight SLC series
SFA wins a league-opening series for the first time since 2020
Fourteen of the Jacks' last 17 runs have crossed with two outs
LeBlanc has now thrown 13.0 innings over three starts without an earned run
LeBlanc has fanned ten to just one walk this season
James has totaled 8.2 innings allowing just five hits and two walks with just one unearned run crossing over five appearances
Bland's active reached safely streak ends at a highly impressive 31 games
Peña and Cantua each collected two hits with the former's solo shot in the ninth the lone extra base hit for the Jacks in game two
Peña is the fourth different Jack to leave the yard this season as he sent a 2-0 pitch out to left field in the ninth
Peña delivered his team-leading seventh multi-hit game and fourth multi-RBI game, while Swift has recorded a hit in a team-leading four-straight games
Shortstop Coby DeJesus played a part in all three double plays turned by the Jacks on Saturday

UP NEXT
The Jacks aim for the series sweep on Sunday in a 1 p.m. start from Maestri Field. Live coverage, including ESPN+ and live stats, are available at www.SFAjacks.com.

G3 | SFA at NEW ORLEANS
Maestri Field | March 1
PURCHASE TICKETS
ESPN+
Live Stats

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