Friday, April 10
Nacogdoches, TX
6:00 P.M.
Stephen F. Austin
vs
UTRGV
Photo by: Elysa Ripley
Pivotal SLC Series on Tap as Jacks Host UTRGV
4/9/2026 1:55:00 PM | Baseball
SFA in thick of Southland standings with five conference weekends remaining in regular season
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin baseball returns home for a pivotal Southland Conference series this weekend against UTRGV. First pitch in Friday's opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. SFA enters the weekend 9-6 in league play, and just a game back of a current two-team tie for second, and four games back in the win column of league-leading Northwestern State. The Vaqueros enter at .500 in league play and positioned directly behind the Jacks in the league standings.
SFA (16-14, 7-5 SLC) carries a 10-6 record at Pilgrim's Park this season, while two wins over the past weekend against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi saw the Jacks match last season's overall win total and SLC win total. SFA's eight road wins this season are the most since the 2023 campaign, which was also the last time the Jacks reached the 20-win mark in a season. SFA enters the weekend winners in six of their last seven SLC series dating back to last season.
SFA (18-16, 9-6 SLC) vs. UTRGV (14-18, 9-9 SLC)
Pilgrim's Park | April 10-12
Free Admission for all First Responders
PURCHASE TICKETS
Live Coverage
THE SERIES
Since 2006, the series between the Jacks and Vaqueros is deadlocked at 18-18. UTRGV has enjoyed recent success against SFA winning the last five matchups and ten of the past dozen. The two programs square off in Nacogdoches for the first time since 2023 and the Jacks carry an 11-7 record at home against the Vaqueros.
VALLEY VIEWPOINT
In 32 games, the Vaqueros have proven to be disciplined at the plate leading the SLC in walks drawn (181), while also boasting the league's second-highest K-to-BB ratio at 2.36 and the second-lowest BB/9 at 3.76 with both statistics ranking inside the DI top 60. Despite the base runners, the Vaqueros average 6.5 runs per game and have totaled 209 on the season with both marks ranking near the bottom third of the league.
However, the lineup is not without power as the Vaqueros' team slugging percentage is .412 behind 32 home runs. Armani Raygoza's ten HRs are the second-most in the league and that power threat has aided in his team-high 31 free passes; the second-most in the Southland. Rocco Garza Gongora leads the SLC in runs scored with 34 and Julius Ramirez is third in RBI with 38.
Sergio Lopez leads the staff with 46 strikeouts. Game two projected starter Harrison Thayer leads all starters with a 4.86 ERA in 33.1 innings pitched. Robert Bonilla is slated to make his ninth appearance of the season and his third in a starting role in Friday's opener. Bonilla has pitched 13.2 innings this season with 16 strikeouts to just five walks. The Vaqueros are slated to throw Carlos Vallejo in Sunday's finale. Vallejo owns a 2.95 ERA in nine appearances totaling 18.1 innings. He owns a 3-to-1 K-to-BB ratio and the staff's lowest batting average against among arms with 10.0 or more innings this spring.
LUMBERJACK LOWDOWN
Through 34 games, SFA has developed a knack for getting on and moving around the basepath. The Jacks rank second, a single free pass behind UTRGV, in the SLC in walks drawn (180). SFA's on-base percentage (.387) also ranks second and the Jacks swipe bags better than any team in the 'Land with 55 steals at 1.62 per game. SFA's 6.7 runs per game come behind the league's third-highest run output with 229.
Julian Swift (.343, 49 H, 40 RBI) leads the offensive attack and is the lone Jack to see action in all 34 games so far this spring. Swift leads the Southland Conference in hits, doubles (10), RBI and triples (3), while being the league's toughest player to retire via strikeout (11.0). Jhett Creel paces the Jacks' efforts with 31 walks drawn and is hitting .319 this season with 36 hits, 29 runs scored and 18 RBI.
Swift leads SFA with 13 multi-RBI games and his 14 multi-hit games are matched by Ethan Peña. Swift is riding a season-best nine-game hit streak. Mark Henning currently carries the team's longest active reached safely streak at 14 games.
On the mound, SFA's 4.31 walks per nine rate is the third lowest in the league, while the staff's K-to-BB ratio of 2.10 and the K/9 rate of 9.1 both rank fourth.
In 40.2 innings, Cody Templeton has recorded 42 punchouts in eight starts. Dylan Mulcahy follows with 41 strikeouts in 31.1 innings pitched and owns a K-to-BB ratio of nearly 4:1. Six other arms have recorded 15 or more strikeouts with both Nate Vidlak (18.0 IP, 26 Ks, .224) and Jack James (25.0 IP, 24 Ks, .184) having crossed over 20 this spring. James leads the staff with a 1.08 ERA and a .84 WHIP. Kadin Munson and Reid Bowyer join James as SFA arms with double-digit appearances without a start. Munson has allowed just one run over his last 3.1 innings which has spanned five appearances.
SEASON NOTABLES
Big Bat Ibe --- Josh Ibe was named the SLC Hitter of the Week on April 6. It was the second weekly SLC honor for the Cypress, Texas native in his SFA career and he became the first Lumberjack this spring to earn the league's weekly plaudit. In four games, Ibe hit .438 with seven hits of which five went for extra bases. He delivered three doubles, a pair of home runs and totaled 16 bases. Ibe drove in a team-leading nine runs and tied for the team lead in runs scored with six.
Nine is Fine --- Junior right hander Dylan Mulcahy recorded a career-high nine strikeouts over 5.1 innings pitched to earn the game three victory and give the Jacks the series over HCU. Mulcahy's nine strikeouts match the most by any SFA arm since the start of the 2023 season.
Eleven is Heaven --- SFA erupted for 11 runs in the eighth inning of the series finale against Lamar to erase a 9-3 deficit on their way to a series win with a 14-11 victory. The Jacks have eight innings of 7+ runs in Vanderburg's tenure with six of those coming this season.
All good things --- Cermodrick Bland's active reached safely streak ended at 31 games following game two of the UNO series.
Seven of 10 --- The Jacks won seven of the squad's first ten games of the season for the first time since 2010.
Impressive Streak --- Julian Swift saw a 19-game hitting streak come to an end in Pine Bluff. Swift's impressive stretch of base knocks is the third longest in program history.
Best Start… Ever --- SFA's 5-0 start to the season is the best in program history, while its sweep of MVSU to open the year marked just the second 4-0 start ever by the Jacks.
Not Tonight --- SFA's effort on the mound, using six different arms, against Huston Tillotson marked the first combined nine-inning no-hitter in program history.
Nine is Fine --- The Jacks swiped nine bases in the game three win over MVSU which is tied for the second-most steals in a single game in program history.
Game One, Game Won --- SFA's 17-2 (7) win over Mississippi Valley State was the Jacks' first win in a season opener since knocking off Northwestern State in the first game of the 2022 campaign.
USA InVESTment --- Former Lumberjack Will Vest earned the call to Houston to join up with Team USA at the World Baseball Classic after being placed into the designated pitcher pool for the tournament. Vest pitched the seventh inning of the WBC's Gold Medal game allowing one hit with one strikeout.
SECURE YOUR SEATS TODAY
Single game tickets for all remaining 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.
SFA (16-14, 7-5 SLC) carries a 10-6 record at Pilgrim's Park this season, while two wins over the past weekend against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi saw the Jacks match last season's overall win total and SLC win total. SFA's eight road wins this season are the most since the 2023 campaign, which was also the last time the Jacks reached the 20-win mark in a season. SFA enters the weekend winners in six of their last seven SLC series dating back to last season.
SFA (18-16, 9-6 SLC) vs. UTRGV (14-18, 9-9 SLC)
Pilgrim's Park | April 10-12
Free Admission for all First Responders
PURCHASE TICKETS
Live Coverage
THE SERIES
Since 2006, the series between the Jacks and Vaqueros is deadlocked at 18-18. UTRGV has enjoyed recent success against SFA winning the last five matchups and ten of the past dozen. The two programs square off in Nacogdoches for the first time since 2023 and the Jacks carry an 11-7 record at home against the Vaqueros.
VALLEY VIEWPOINT
In 32 games, the Vaqueros have proven to be disciplined at the plate leading the SLC in walks drawn (181), while also boasting the league's second-highest K-to-BB ratio at 2.36 and the second-lowest BB/9 at 3.76 with both statistics ranking inside the DI top 60. Despite the base runners, the Vaqueros average 6.5 runs per game and have totaled 209 on the season with both marks ranking near the bottom third of the league.
However, the lineup is not without power as the Vaqueros' team slugging percentage is .412 behind 32 home runs. Armani Raygoza's ten HRs are the second-most in the league and that power threat has aided in his team-high 31 free passes; the second-most in the Southland. Rocco Garza Gongora leads the SLC in runs scored with 34 and Julius Ramirez is third in RBI with 38.
Sergio Lopez leads the staff with 46 strikeouts. Game two projected starter Harrison Thayer leads all starters with a 4.86 ERA in 33.1 innings pitched. Robert Bonilla is slated to make his ninth appearance of the season and his third in a starting role in Friday's opener. Bonilla has pitched 13.2 innings this season with 16 strikeouts to just five walks. The Vaqueros are slated to throw Carlos Vallejo in Sunday's finale. Vallejo owns a 2.95 ERA in nine appearances totaling 18.1 innings. He owns a 3-to-1 K-to-BB ratio and the staff's lowest batting average against among arms with 10.0 or more innings this spring.
LUMBERJACK LOWDOWN
Through 34 games, SFA has developed a knack for getting on and moving around the basepath. The Jacks rank second, a single free pass behind UTRGV, in the SLC in walks drawn (180). SFA's on-base percentage (.387) also ranks second and the Jacks swipe bags better than any team in the 'Land with 55 steals at 1.62 per game. SFA's 6.7 runs per game come behind the league's third-highest run output with 229.
Julian Swift (.343, 49 H, 40 RBI) leads the offensive attack and is the lone Jack to see action in all 34 games so far this spring. Swift leads the Southland Conference in hits, doubles (10), RBI and triples (3), while being the league's toughest player to retire via strikeout (11.0). Jhett Creel paces the Jacks' efforts with 31 walks drawn and is hitting .319 this season with 36 hits, 29 runs scored and 18 RBI.
Swift leads SFA with 13 multi-RBI games and his 14 multi-hit games are matched by Ethan Peña. Swift is riding a season-best nine-game hit streak. Mark Henning currently carries the team's longest active reached safely streak at 14 games.
On the mound, SFA's 4.31 walks per nine rate is the third lowest in the league, while the staff's K-to-BB ratio of 2.10 and the K/9 rate of 9.1 both rank fourth.
In 40.2 innings, Cody Templeton has recorded 42 punchouts in eight starts. Dylan Mulcahy follows with 41 strikeouts in 31.1 innings pitched and owns a K-to-BB ratio of nearly 4:1. Six other arms have recorded 15 or more strikeouts with both Nate Vidlak (18.0 IP, 26 Ks, .224) and Jack James (25.0 IP, 24 Ks, .184) having crossed over 20 this spring. James leads the staff with a 1.08 ERA and a .84 WHIP. Kadin Munson and Reid Bowyer join James as SFA arms with double-digit appearances without a start. Munson has allowed just one run over his last 3.1 innings which has spanned five appearances.
SEASON NOTABLES
Big Bat Ibe --- Josh Ibe was named the SLC Hitter of the Week on April 6. It was the second weekly SLC honor for the Cypress, Texas native in his SFA career and he became the first Lumberjack this spring to earn the league's weekly plaudit. In four games, Ibe hit .438 with seven hits of which five went for extra bases. He delivered three doubles, a pair of home runs and totaled 16 bases. Ibe drove in a team-leading nine runs and tied for the team lead in runs scored with six.
Nine is Fine --- Junior right hander Dylan Mulcahy recorded a career-high nine strikeouts over 5.1 innings pitched to earn the game three victory and give the Jacks the series over HCU. Mulcahy's nine strikeouts match the most by any SFA arm since the start of the 2023 season.
Eleven is Heaven --- SFA erupted for 11 runs in the eighth inning of the series finale against Lamar to erase a 9-3 deficit on their way to a series win with a 14-11 victory. The Jacks have eight innings of 7+ runs in Vanderburg's tenure with six of those coming this season.
All good things --- Cermodrick Bland's active reached safely streak ended at 31 games following game two of the UNO series.
Seven of 10 --- The Jacks won seven of the squad's first ten games of the season for the first time since 2010.
Impressive Streak --- Julian Swift saw a 19-game hitting streak come to an end in Pine Bluff. Swift's impressive stretch of base knocks is the third longest in program history.
Best Start… Ever --- SFA's 5-0 start to the season is the best in program history, while its sweep of MVSU to open the year marked just the second 4-0 start ever by the Jacks.
Not Tonight --- SFA's effort on the mound, using six different arms, against Huston Tillotson marked the first combined nine-inning no-hitter in program history.
Nine is Fine --- The Jacks swiped nine bases in the game three win over MVSU which is tied for the second-most steals in a single game in program history.
Game One, Game Won --- SFA's 17-2 (7) win over Mississippi Valley State was the Jacks' first win in a season opener since knocking off Northwestern State in the first game of the 2022 campaign.
USA InVESTment --- Former Lumberjack Will Vest earned the call to Houston to join up with Team USA at the World Baseball Classic after being placed into the designated pitcher pool for the tournament. Vest pitched the seventh inning of the WBC's Gold Medal game allowing one hit with one strikeout.
SECURE YOUR SEATS TODAY
Single game tickets for all remaining 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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