NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Mississippi Valley State University baseball program garnered 18 hits including five off the stick of Eric Williams, but the Lumberjacks came away with two wins by scores of 17-2 and 15-3, each seven-inning affairs.
 
The Basics:
 

• Score (Game 1)
  • Stephen F. Austin – 17
  • Mississippi Valley – 2
    • 7 Innings

 

• Score (Game 2)
  • Stephen F. Austin – 15
  • Mississippi Valley – 3
    • 7 Innings

 

• Records
  • Mississippi Valley (0-2, 0-0 SWAC)
  • Stephen F. Austin (2-0, 0-0 Southland)

 

• Location
  • Nacogdoches, Texas – Pilgrim's Park

 

• Series History (Since 2006)
  • Lumberjacks Lead 3-1 (25%)

 

• Winning Streak
  • Lumberjacks (W13) / Diamond Devils' Last Win: February 21, 2009 (4-3)

 
Diamond Devils' Top Performers (Game 1):
 

• Williams was an on-base machine, going 3-of-4 including an RBI single plus a double.

 

• Valley Veteran Chris Soeder drove in the Devils' other run, beginning his fourth season in Itta Bena by notching two singles.

 

• Cody Leming smacked a double, Tanner Aoki reached twice courtesy of a hit-by-pitch plus a knock, and Jaxon Haynes came off the bench to deliver a pinch-hit single.

 

• On the mound, Kobe Ladd was the only pitcher in either game to not allow a run for Coach Bilbrey's club, posting two scoreless frames with a strikeout.

 
Diamond Devils' Top Performers (Game 2):
 

• Williams completed his big day with a pair of hits out of the three-hole.

 

• Johnny Escobalez Jr. showcased some electric swing-and-miss stuff, pitching just one inning but recording all three outs via the K.

 

• Leming swiped the first stolen base of the season, turning over the lineup consistently as the #9 batter with a hit, a walk, a run scored, and the aforementioned steal.

 

• Aoki lived up to his recent All-SWAC First Team billing, tallying a hit, base on balls, run scored, and RBI in one official AB.

 

• Haynes only had one hit, but it made him the first student-athlete to collect a multi-RBI contest in 2026, bringing home a pair on a two-run two-bagger to open the scoring in the opening frame.

 
Next:
  

• Valley gets another crack at the Purple and White home nine with a 1 p.m. first pitch scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

 
Follow the Mississippi Valley State baseball program on Twitter / X (@ValleyStateBSB) and Instagram (@ValleyStateBSB).
 
Follow the Delta Devils / Devilettes on Facebook (Valley State Athletics), Twitter / X (@MVSUDevilSports), and Instagram (@ValleyStateAthletics).