NACOGDOCHES, Texas (Interstat) — The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks erased an early eight-run deficit with a relentless offensive display, defeating the Alcorn State Braves 16-8 in a non-conference baseball game Wednesday evening at Jaycees Field.

The game’s decisive and most important sequence unfolded in the bottom of the fourth inning, transforming a tight contest into a rout. Trailing 8-7, the Lumberjacks sent 13 men to the plate and scored six runs to seize control. The inning was prolonged by a series of walks and capped by Julian Swift’s three-run double to left field, which broke the game open. That hit gave Stephen F. Austin a 13-8 lead, part of a larger 13-0 run that spanned from the first through the sixth innings.

Alcorn State had stunned the home crowd by scoring all eight of its runs in the top of the first inning before recording an out, an unprecedented start to the game. The Braves’ outburst came against Lumberjacks starter Hayden Tronson, who settled in to pitch four complete innings, allowing seven runs on three hits with four strikeouts to earn the win.

Stephen F. Austin immediately began chipping away at the large deficit in its half of the first. The Lumberjacks scored five runs, only one of which was earned, capitalizing on a passed ball, a throwing error and a three-run homer by first baseman Evan Aslaksen. They added another run in the second on a solo home run from Swift and tied the game at 8-8 in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Tom Pena before Swift’s pivotal double.

Swift, the Lumberjacks’ second baseman, was the top star, finishing 2 for 4 with a home run, a double and four RBIs. His performance marked a breakout after going 1 for 8 with two RBIs over his previous three games. Aslaksen added a home run and three RBIs, while catcher Ethan Adkisson went 4 for 5 with an RBI.

The Braves were led by catcher Nico Garcia, who drove in three runs on two hits, including a two-run double during the team’s first-inning explosion. Alcorn State managed eight hits but stranded multiple runners and could not sustain its early momentum against a parade of Stephen F. Austin relievers.

Following Tronson, the Lumberjacks’ bullpen combined for five innings of one-run ball. Jonathan Valdez, Ayden Terry and Andrew Wenske were particularly effective, with Valdez and Terry each tossing scoreless outings and Wenske striking out the side in the ninth inning. For Alcorn State, relievers Yoni Castro and Hayden Konkler provided scoreless appearances late.

The victory improved Stephen F. Austin’s record to 21-16, while Alcorn State fell to 3-29. The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, whose simulator had forecast a 6-1 Lumberjacks win and gave Stephen F. Austin an 89.8% probability of victory, not accounting for the Braves’ explosive start.

Stephen F. Austin opens a Southland Conference series at home against Nicholls State on Friday. Alcorn State returns to Southwestern Athletic Conference play Friday, hosting Southern for a three-game set.