SFA Baseball Rallies, Falls to Baylor 9-8 in Close Contest

Jacks mount comeback but can't complete rally against Big 12 foe

Feb. 25, 2026 at 6:38am

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Stephen F. Austin baseball mounted a significant comeback against Baylor, tying the game at 8 after trailing by as many as five runs. However, a stolen home plate in the eighth inning proved decisive as the Bears ultimately defeated the Jacks 9-8 at Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark.

Why it matters

The Jacks demonstrated resilience by twice overcoming a five-run deficit against a Big 12 opponent, but their inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the late innings proved costly.

The details

The Jacks utilized seven pitchers, with Seanan Farney starting the game. Despite fanning four batters, including a full inning of strikeouts, Baylor took an early lead with two solo home runs. The Bears extended their advantage in the third inning with a run-scoring double and a two-run home run. SFA began to close the gap in the fifth inning with a three-run home run by Cermodrick Bland, but Baylor quickly responded to regain an 8-3 lead. The Jacks erupted for five runs in the sixth inning to tie the game at 8-8, but Baylor's Brady Janusek stole home in the eighth inning to give the Bears the winning run.

  • The game was played on Tuesday night.
  • SFA will travel to New Orleans to begin Southland Conference play with a three-game series against the Privateers, starting February 27 at Maestri Field.

The players

Seanan Farney

The starting pitcher for Stephen F. Austin, who fanned four batters, including a full inning of strikeouts.

Cermodrick Bland

The SFA player who hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning, extending his streak of reaching base safely to 30 consecutive games.

Brady Janusek

The Baylor player who stole home in the eighth inning to give the Bears the winning run.

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What they’re saying

“The Jacks demonstrated resilience by twice overcoming a five-run deficit, but the inability to convert scoring opportunities in the late innings proved costly against a Big 12 opponent.”

— Samantha Carter, Editor-in-Chief

What’s next

The Jacks will now travel to New Orleans to begin Southland Conference play with a three-game series against the Privateers, starting February 27 at Maestri Field.

The takeaway

Despite their comeback efforts, the Jacks' inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the late innings proved costly against a Big 12 opponent. As they head into Southland Conference play, the team will need to focus on converting more of their scoring chances to secure victories.