Dates/Times: Friday, April 14th @ 7:00 p.m. / Saturday, April 15th @ 7:00 p.m. / Sunday, April 16th @ 1:00 p.m.
Live Stream: WAC International
Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico
Field: Presley Askew Field
Series: 5th-7th Meetings (SFA leads 3-1)
LAS CRUCES, NM – The Stephen F. Austin baseball program makes their way back to the diamond for more WAC action after some time off the field. The Lumberjacks will head to Las Cruces to take on the New Mexico State Aggies for their first match ups since 2016.
A Look at the Lumberjacks
The Lumberjacks head into the series with their WAC rivals with the hot hand. SFA is coming off a three-game sweep against Tarleton and have been one of the best teams in the conference with a 10-5 record, currently sitting second in the WAC standings two games behind Sam Houston. They also have a strong record on the road this year as they carry a 9-6 record in away games this season.
The Lumberjack bats continue to shine as the team combines for a .291 average. Eight ‘Jacks have an average of at least .250 and four with at least .300. Clayton Loranger holds the best average on the team with .395, which is fifth best in the conference. The senior is riding on a 13-game hitting streak and has accumulated five multi-hit games in the last seven matches. Only twice this season has Loranger played a full game but fail to record a hit.Alex Rodgers continues to be a run-producing machine for the Lumberjacks, averaging 1.43 runs per game which is first in the conference and seventh in the nation. Rodgers, who is also on a 12-game hitting streak, has scored a run in the last five games and in 24 of the 30 matches played this season. Rodgers also leads the team with a 1.076 OPS, ten doubles, eight home runs, 28 RBIs, 83 total bases (fourth in conference), and 9 hit-by-pitches (second in conference).
Cade Stapleton holds the best ERA with 5.56 in eight games started this season. Stapleton is coming off his best outing of the year against Tarleton where he recorded his first win of the season by going seven innings and allowing only one run.
Garrett Gearner is one of the most reliable arms out of the SFA bullpen as he currently holds the most wins on the team with five and has the best ERA from the bullpen with 2.65. Gearner has allowed only five runs in 17 innings pitched, and opposing batters record a batting average of .175.
A Look at the Aggies
The Aggies head into the series with a 6-22 overall record and a 4-11 WAC record. Their six wins this season is the lowest number of overall wins in the conference. Although only having four conference wins, only once have the Aggies been swept by a WAC opponent as they come away with one win in each of their other series. In their 14 home games this season, only three times has New Mexico come away with the win.
Kevin Jimenez leads the Aggie offense as he carries the best average (.326) and OPS (.951). Jimenez also leads the team with 17 runs, 31 hits, five doubles, six home runs, 18 RBIs, and 54 total bases. Jimenez has recorded eight hits in the last four games.
Nick Gore is another power hitter to watch this weekend as he has five home runs to his name and is tied with Jimenez with 18 RBIs.
Keith Jones II is a reliable bat for the Aggies as he is going into the series on a 10-game hitting streak.
Treyjen Meza has made eight starts for New Mexico and holds the best ERA out of the starting rotation with 5.13.
Noah Estrella and Matthew Maloney form a strong duo in the New Mexico bullpen as both contain a sub-4.00 ERA and both have made double-digit appearances at this point in the season. In 46.1 innings pitched combined, they have only allowed 13 earned runs and three home runs.