NACOGDOCHES, Texas (Interstat) — The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks erupted for 11 runs in a marathon bottom of the first inning and cruised to a 17-2 victory over the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday at Jaycees Field.

The game was effectively decided in that opening frame, as the Lumberjacks sent 17 batters to the plate against two Delta Devils pitchers. Stephen F. Austin capitalized on early control issues and a key error to turn a 2-0 deficit into an insurmountable lead.

Mississippi Valley State had struck first without a hit in the top of the first, scoring two runs on a groundout and a series of productive at-bats. However, Stephen F. Austin starter Jordan Templeton settled after the rocky start and earned the win.

The Lumberjacks’ offense immediately answered in their half of the inning. Consecutive hits by Bland and Creel set the table before Henning delivered the decisive blow, a three-run double to left-center field that gave Stephen F. Austin a 4-2 lead it would not relinquish. The inning continued with a combination of hits, walks, a hit batter and a costly fielding error by Mississippi Valley State second baseman Tanner Aoki that allowed two unearned runs to score. Creel added a sacrifice fly later in the inning, one of two for the Lumberjacks in the game.

Stephen F. Austin added single runs in the second and fourth innings before a three-run fourth, highlighted by a two-run double from DeJesus, extended the lead to 17-2. The Lumberjacks finished with 12 hits, with multiple players driving in runs.

Mississippi Valley State, which managed 10 hits, scored its final run in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Christopher Soeder. Eric Williams had three hits for the Delta Devils, including an RBI single in the fifth.

The most important part of the game was the bottom of the first inning. Stephen F. Austin’s 11-run offensive explosion completely shifted the momentum and placed the outcome beyond doubt almost immediately. The inning featured eight hits, five walks, a hit batter, and was prolonged by a critical fielding error. This early outburst demoralized the Delta Devils and allowed the Lumberjacks to comfortably manage the remainder of the contest.

Stephen F. Austin improved to 2-0 to start the season. Mississippi Valley State fell to 0-2.

The teams were scheduled to complete the doubleheader later Friday. The series continues with single games on Saturday and Sunday.

Stephen F. Austin is next scheduled to play at Arkansas-Pine Bluff for a four-game series beginning Feb. 20. Mississippi Valley State concludes its series at Stephen F. Austin this weekend before traveling to Jacksonville State for a two-game set on Feb. 24.