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'Jacks Return to Southland Conference Play
March 31, 2006 NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Lumberjacks are back in the friendly confines of Jaycees Field Friday afternoon as they prepare to take on league-leading Texas-Arlington. The Lumberjacks enter the series with a 6-23 overall record after splitting a doubleheader at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Wednesday. UTA is 11-16 overall and sits atop the SLC standings with a 7-0 record. The 'Jacks are 2-10 in conference action. Friday's game is slated to begin at 2 p.m. SFA vs. the Mavericks: The Lumberjacks are 4-19 (.174) all-time against Texas-Arlington, and have lost four of the last five meetings between the two schools. The 'Jacks' last victory was an 11-1 decision during in 1994. Strength of Schedule: SFA head coach Donnie Watson will put his young troops to the test early and often in 2006. The `Jacks' 2006 schedule consists of six teams that earned a spot in the 2005 NCAA Championships, including two that advanced to the College World Series (Baylor and Tulane). The Lumberjacks have faced two teams ranked among the Baseball America Top 25 poll (No. 17 Arkansas and No. 21 TCU), and still have No. 11 Tulane scheduled for a three-game series later this season. Jaycees Field: The Lumberjacks will be playing all their home games at Nacogdoches City Park's Jaycees Field, until the new on-campus facility is completed. Jaycees Field is where the `Jacks played their home contests through the 1995 season. Since joining the Southland Conference in the 1987-88 academic year, SFA recorded a 79-109 (.420) tally at Jaycees Field. The `Jacks' best season at Jaycees Field came in 1988 when SFA recorded a 15-2 (.882) mark. The most home victories by a Lumberjack team during that stretch was 17 in 1993, when SFA recorded a 17-9 (.654) record. The `Jacks are 4-6 (.400) at home this season. The Slugger: Junior Steven Hill recorded the 'Jacks first multi-homer game Wednesday in the second game of a twin bill at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Hill hit two home runs to help guide SFA to a 10-5 win over the Islanders. On Deck ... SFA will be back in action Tuesday April 4th, when they travel to Dallas for their third and final game against Dallas Baptist. The game against DBU is slated to begin at 6 p.m. SFA will then travel to Lake Charles, La., Friday to open a three-game series against McNeese State. Friday's game against the Cowboys is slated to begin at 7 p.m. from Cowboy Diamond. |