Jacks Strike Early, Cut Down A&M-CC in Game Two to Take Series

Friday, April 3

Corpus Christi, TX

6:00 P.M.

Stephen F. Austin

18-14, 9-5

Texas A&M - Corpus Christi

13-16, 3-10

Stephen F. Austin

Texas AM-Corpus Christi

Photo by: Elysa Ripley

Jacks Strike Early, Cut Down A&M-CC in Game Two to Take Series

4/3/2026 11:22:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Seven-run first inning jumpstarts SFA’s efforts in winning fourth SLC series of ’26 season

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A seven-run first inning sent Stephen F. Austin to what would be over half of its Friday night run production as the Jacks used the fast start to put away Corpus Christi 13-9 at Chapman Field. SFA improves to 9-5 in league play as the Jacks win a fourth Southland Conference series this season.

Elian Balmaceda (W, 2-1) entered in the sixth inning as the second relief arm called upon following Gabe LeBlanc's start. He finished out the contest scattering three hits and two runs, while striking out nine of the 15 batters faced. His punchout total matches Dylan Mulcahy's for the most by a Jack this season.

Balmaceda earned three swinging Ks in both the sixth and seventh innings, a seventh one to start the eighth, and the eighth and ninth such strikeouts for the first two gone in the ninth.

The seven first inning runs were plated courtesy of six hits and two walks as first-pitch singles from Julian Swift and Mark Henning plated consecutive runs on as many pitches. Josh Ibe cleared a fully loaded base path with a double into the gap in left centerfield, while Coby DeJesus singled in a run and Cermodrick Bland delivered a sacrifice fly.

A&M-CC pulled to within a pair of runs of the initial seven, but the Jacks responded with two tallies in each of the fourth, fifth and pre-stretch seventh innings. Henning doubled home two in the fourth, DeJesus recorded a sac fly and Ibe scored on a passed ball in the fifth and the final two crossed via a fielding error and a wild pitch in the seventh.

POSTGAME NOTES

The Jacks have matched their overall win total (18) and conference win total (9) from a season ago
It is the most road wins for SFA since the 2023 season
SFA has won four-straight games and five of their past six
The Jacks have lost just one SLC series in their past seven dating back to last season owning a record of 14-6 in those contests
It marked the Jacks' eighth game this spring with 13 or more hits and third straight
Five Jacks recorded multiple hits with DeJesus leading SFA with three
Bland recorded multiple knocks for the ninth time this season and for the second-straight game
Swift's team-leading hit streak moved to seven games
Juan Cantua drew half of SFA's six walks
Henning's reached safely streak moved to 12 games

UP NEXT
The series finale is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch on Saturday from Chapman Field. Live coverage links will be available at www.SFAjacks.com.

SECURE YOUR SEATS TODAY
Single game tickets for all SFA baseball 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 action from Pilgrim's Park 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 baseball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Jacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.

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