NATCHITOCHES, La. (Interstat) — Stephen F. Austin rallied from a three-run deficit with a four-run fourth inning and held off Northwestern State for a 6-4 victory Friday, May 15, 2026, at Brown-Stroud Field.

The Lumberjacks, who improved to 28-24, outhit the Demons 13-7 and got a critical relief outing from Elian Balmaceda, who pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Northwestern State, now 26-25, lost despite a three-run third that briefly turned the game in its favor.

Stephen F. Austin struck first in the top of the second when Pena homered down the left-field line, his fifth of the season, for a 1-0 lead. That advantage held until the bottom of the third, when the Demons erupted for four runs off Lumberjacks starter Gabriel LeBlanc. LeBlanc, who allowed four earned runs on zero hits over three innings, was victimized by a triple from Sam Ardoin to right-center, then a fielders’ choice by Marsala that drove in Ardoin and a subsequent throwing error that put Marsala on second. Menard followed with an RBI single up the middle, and Siervo crushed a two-run homer to left field, his sixth, scoring Menard to give the Demons a 4-1 lead.

The Lumberjacks responded immediately in the top of the fourth. After Cantua struck out looking, DeJesus singled to left, Pena singled to right, and Schneider singled to center to load the bases with one out. Bland then singled to shallow right, scoring DeJesus. Creel fouled out, but Swift delivered a two-run single up the middle, plating Pena and Schneider. Henning followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Bland. The four-run frame gave Stephen F. Austin a 5-4 lead and knocked Demons starter Kevin Robinson from the game. Robinson lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts.

Northwestern State’s bullpen kept the game close. Caden Fiveash relieved Robinson and allowed one run over 2 1/3 innings, striking out two. Caleb Muffoletto then pitched three scoreless innings, yielding no hits and striking out two, but the damage was done.

Stephen F. Austin added an insurance run in the top of the sixth. With Creel and Swift on base after a walk and a hit-by-pitch, Henning singled to left-center, scoring Creel to make it 6-4. The Demons threatened in the bottom of the ninth against closer James. Marsala led off with a double to left-center, then advanced to third on a groundout by Menard and a groundout by Siervo. But pinch hitter Bryce Johnson, batting for Simonelli, flied out to right to end the game.

Balmaceda, who entered in the fourth after LeBlanc’s exit, retired all six batters he faced, striking out two. The Lumberjacks’ bullpen combined for six shutout innings after LeBlanc’s rocky start. Northwestern State’s best chance after the fourth inning came in the fifth, when Simonelli singled and Huerta walked to put two runners on with two outs, but White flied out. The Demons also put two runners on in the sixth when Marsala doubled, but Menard grounded out.

Sam Ardoin led Northwestern State offensively, going 1-for-2 with a triple and a walk. Sebastian Huerta was 1-for-3 with a walk. For Stephen F. Austin, multiple hitters recorded multi-hit games, including Swift, who singled twice and drove in two runs, and Henning, who had two hits and two RBIs. The Lumberjacks’ lineup produced 13 hits, including four in the decisive fourth inning.

The win snapped Stephen F. Austin’s two-game losing streak in the series after the teams split a three-game set in April. Northwestern State had taken two of three from the Lumberjacks in Natchitoches last month, winning 11-8 and 2-1 before Stephen F. Austin salvaged an 11-8 victory. The Lumberjacks came into the game having won their previous contest at Lamar, while the Demons had defeated Texas-Rio Grande Valley.

No betting line was posted for the game.