Friday, February 6
Commerce, TX
1:30 P.M.
Stephen F. Austin
vs
South Dakota State
Jacks Jumpstart '26 Campaign at Lion Classic in Commerce
2/5/2026 1:46:00 PM | Softball
SFA opens new season with five contests slated for the weekend
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The penning of the newest chapter in Stephen F. Austin softball history begins this weekend in Commerce, Texas, as the Jacks open the 2026 campaign at the Lion Classic hosted by East Texas A&M. Five games, against four opponents, await the Jacks over three days as year three of the Jeff Jackson era commences. All five contests will be broadcast through www.LionAthletics.com with live stats links available at www.SFAjacks.com.
The Jacks open the season against South Dakota State (1:30 p.m.) and St. Bonaventure (6 p.m.) on Friday, match up against Texas Southern (9 a.m.) and Bucknell (11:15 a.m.) on Saturday and conclude the weekend with a second meeting with the Jackrabbits (11:15 a.m.). SDSU went 29-26 last season with two wins over the Jacks. St. Bonaventure posted an 11-35 in 2025. SFA beat Texas Southern in Commerce last season. TSU finished the campaign with 14 victories. Bucknell went 18-30 a season ago.
SFA won 27 games a season ago, 11 more than in Jackson's first year at the helm in 2024, and earned the No. 6 seed in the Southland Conference Tournament after winning 14 regular season conference games. The Jacks' final win of the year was a 7-4 victory over No. 3 Nicholls in the opening round of the SLC tournament.
The 2025 season saw the Jacks rank inside the SLC's top three in seven statistical categories among which included fewest hit batters (22), shutouts (7), home runs (25), triples (19) and stolen bases (76). The total in three-baggers ranked 11th in the country behind a new single-season program record by returning shortstop Jamie Varga who recorded eight; the fourth-most in Division I in 2025. Varga finished the 2025 season with 33 hits, 14 for extra bases, 25 runs scored and a dozen RBI.
Varga wasn't the only record-setting Jack a season ago as Kaylee Paul produced a program record .442 batting average after playing in 55 of 56 games with 53 starts. Paul recorded the second-most hits for the Jacks with 57 and was one of six players with 20+ RBI. Also back for the Jacks, among players that saw action in 45 or more games in 2025, include Ellie Vance (.372 avg., 24 RBI, 25 runs, 20 SB) who led the squad in hits with 71, Kyi'Marri Ester (.318 avg., 28 hits, 11 runs) who led the team in RBI with 32 and Lilly Bean (22 hits, 13 RBI). Vance was one of the toughest players to strike out in DI softball ranking 11th nationally and leading the SLC at 38.2%.
In the circle, the Jacks return the services of Jordyn Ages and Reagan Hall. Ages posted a 6-3 record over 26 appearances with 11 starts. She tossed 66.0 innings with 30 strikeouts. Hall won seven games last spring behind a team-high 27 appearances. She led the unit with three saves and struck out 54 batters. SFA added to its staff in the offseason bringing in a pair of DII arms in Crimson Bryant and Amelia Hatthorn. Bryant joins the Jacks from UT-Tyler where she won a national championship in 2024. She won eight games and went the distance three times and carried a 1.69 ERA, while striking out 63. Hatthorn is a grad transfer from Angelo State where she posted an 18-5 record with two saves over two seasons for the Rambelles. Hatthorn totaled 166.0 innings and struck out 79.
The roster features nine freshman, two of which, Alexis Grigsby and Mallory Dwyer, return after redshirting last spring.
SECURE YOUR SEATS TODAY
Single game tickets for all SFA softball home games are available now. Fans interested in purchasing season ticket packages can secure their seats here. Don't miss out on all the exciting SFA softball action this season!
THE JACKS HAVE GONE MOBILE
SFA Athletics' newest mobile phone application is designed to bring Lumberjack fans closer to the action than ever before. Available now on both the App Store and Google Play, the new SFA Athletics app delivers schedules, scores, rosters, news, ticket access, and exclusive content right to your phone. Fans can also receive push notifications, so they never miss a moment of the action. Download now: Official SFA Athletics App.
FOLLOW THE JACKS
For all the latest information on SFA softball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Jacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
The Jacks open the season against South Dakota State (1:30 p.m.) and St. Bonaventure (6 p.m.) on Friday, match up against Texas Southern (9 a.m.) and Bucknell (11:15 a.m.) on Saturday and conclude the weekend with a second meeting with the Jackrabbits (11:15 a.m.). SDSU went 29-26 last season with two wins over the Jacks. St. Bonaventure posted an 11-35 in 2025. SFA beat Texas Southern in Commerce last season. TSU finished the campaign with 14 victories. Bucknell went 18-30 a season ago.
SFA won 27 games a season ago, 11 more than in Jackson's first year at the helm in 2024, and earned the No. 6 seed in the Southland Conference Tournament after winning 14 regular season conference games. The Jacks' final win of the year was a 7-4 victory over No. 3 Nicholls in the opening round of the SLC tournament.
The 2025 season saw the Jacks rank inside the SLC's top three in seven statistical categories among which included fewest hit batters (22), shutouts (7), home runs (25), triples (19) and stolen bases (76). The total in three-baggers ranked 11th in the country behind a new single-season program record by returning shortstop Jamie Varga who recorded eight; the fourth-most in Division I in 2025. Varga finished the 2025 season with 33 hits, 14 for extra bases, 25 runs scored and a dozen RBI.
Varga wasn't the only record-setting Jack a season ago as Kaylee Paul produced a program record .442 batting average after playing in 55 of 56 games with 53 starts. Paul recorded the second-most hits for the Jacks with 57 and was one of six players with 20+ RBI. Also back for the Jacks, among players that saw action in 45 or more games in 2025, include Ellie Vance (.372 avg., 24 RBI, 25 runs, 20 SB) who led the squad in hits with 71, Kyi'Marri Ester (.318 avg., 28 hits, 11 runs) who led the team in RBI with 32 and Lilly Bean (22 hits, 13 RBI). Vance was one of the toughest players to strike out in DI softball ranking 11th nationally and leading the SLC at 38.2%.
In the circle, the Jacks return the services of Jordyn Ages and Reagan Hall. Ages posted a 6-3 record over 26 appearances with 11 starts. She tossed 66.0 innings with 30 strikeouts. Hall won seven games last spring behind a team-high 27 appearances. She led the unit with three saves and struck out 54 batters. SFA added to its staff in the offseason bringing in a pair of DII arms in Crimson Bryant and Amelia Hatthorn. Bryant joins the Jacks from UT-Tyler where she won a national championship in 2024. She won eight games and went the distance three times and carried a 1.69 ERA, while striking out 63. Hatthorn is a grad transfer from Angelo State where she posted an 18-5 record with two saves over two seasons for the Rambelles. Hatthorn totaled 166.0 innings and struck out 79.
The roster features nine freshman, two of which, Alexis Grigsby and Mallory Dwyer, return after redshirting last spring.
SECURE YOUR SEATS TODAY
Single game tickets for all SFA softball home games are available now. Fans interested in purchasing season ticket packages can secure their seats here. Don't miss out on all the exciting SFA softball action this season!
THE JACKS HAVE GONE MOBILE
SFA Athletics' newest mobile phone application is designed to bring Lumberjack fans closer to the action than ever before. Available now on both the App Store and Google Play, the new SFA Athletics app delivers schedules, scores, rosters, news, ticket access, and exclusive content right to your phone. Fans can also receive push notifications, so they never miss a moment of the action. Download now: Official SFA Athletics App.
FOLLOW THE JACKS
For all the latest information on SFA softball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Jacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
RHP
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C/1B
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RHP
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C
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OF/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
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RHP
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OF
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2B
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SS
/ Softball2.1.24 | Axe 'Em Insider Ep. 24 x Softball
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