AP Sports Preview: Stephen F. Austin at Northwestern State

CYPRESS, La. (Interstat) — Stephen F. Austin visits Northwestern State on Sunday afternoon at H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field, with both teams seeking momentum in a pivotal Southland Conference series finale.

The Lumberjacks (21-21) enter after a 2-1 loss Saturday, dropping the first two games of the weekend set. Stephen F. Austin has lost four of its past five games and sits at .500 overall, needing a win to avoid a sweep. The Demons (25-18) have won the series’ first two contests — 11-8 on Friday and 2-1 on Saturday — and look to complete a three-game sweep at home.

Forecasted conditions call for 77 degrees with clouds.

Players to Watch

For Stephen F. Austin, reliever Gabriel LeBlanc has become a key arm. LeBlanc threw 4⅔ scoreless innings Saturday, allowing no hits with five strikeouts. His season has been uneven — he surrendered five earned runs in 1⅓ innings against Nicholls on April 18 — but his ability to limit damage Saturday made him the Lumberjacks’ most effective pitcher in the series.

Northwestern State counters with right-hander Dylan Marionneaux, who earned Saturday’s win with a dominant start. Marionneaux worked 8⅓ innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out eight. He also threw a complete-game shutout against Houston Christian on April 11, scattering six hits with 11 strikeouts. Marionneaux has been the Demons’ most reliable starter, posting a 1.66 ERA over his past three starts.

Recent Results

The Demons have won three straight overall. Saturday’s victory featured Marionneaux’s strong outing, plus a 2-for-4 day from designated hitter Ethan Menard, who drove in the winning run. Northwestern State lost three of four at Lamar before this series and dropped a midweek contest to Louisiana-Monroe.

Stephen F. Austin managed just one run Saturday despite five pitchers combining for 13 strikeouts. The Lumberjacks have lost four of five, including a series sweep at home against Nicholls State in which they were outscored 38-7.

Projection

Interstat’s game simulator projects a narrow 4-3 Stephen F. Austin victory, but the Demons have dominated the series and Marionneaux gives them a clear pitching edge.

Upcoming Schedules

Stephen F. Austin returns home to host Houston on Tuesday before a weekend series against McNeese State. Northwestern State travels to Arkansas for a two-game set Tuesday and Wednesday.