NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Fourteen free bases for the opposition made a hard hill to climb for Lamar University (7-6, 0-1 SLC) in its Southland Conference opener. The Cardinals walked nine and hit five batters in a 5-0 loss at Stephen F. Austin (4-10, 1-0 SLC).

Trevin Michael got the start and worked through four innings, striking out seven while walking six. He allowed five hits and two earned runs. Dylan Johnson pitched effectively for three and a third innings of relief, striking out five, but a hit-by-pitch and a walk eventually came around to score on him in the eighth. Douglas Palmer and John Altman combined to close out the inning with Palmer allowing the final run.

SFA struck first, bringing one run home in the bottom half of the first. A lead-off single reached second on a wild pitch strikeout, and a walk put runners on first and second. A single through the right side scored the runner on second and put Jacks on the corners, and Michael stranded both of them with two more strikeouts. Through one inning SFA led 1-0.
 
A tough strike zone helped SFA score another run in the bottom of the fourth. A lead-off double was picked off on second, but back-to-back walks put two Jacks on. A bloop single that somehow stayed fair scored the runner on second, and SFA loaded the bases on its third walk of the inning. Michael stranded three on his seventh strikeout of the day. Through four innings SFA led 2-0.
 
After a 1-2-3 inning for Lamar, SFA came within 90 feet of scoring again in the fifth, but reliever Dylan Johnson bent but didn't break. A lead-off double reached third on a sac bunt, but Johnson struck out two to strand the runner 90 feet from home. Through five innings SFA led 2-0.
 
A one-out single by Cole Girouard, his second hit of the day, looked like it could get the Cardinal offense moving in the top of the sixth, but Girouard was called out on batter's interference by JC Correa. A hit-by-pitch and an intentional walk put two runners on in the bottom half, but Johnson struck out the final batter to strand two more. Through six innings Lamar trailed led 2-0.
 
A two-out double by Kelby Weyler again appeared like it could kick start the LU offense, but he was stranded on a strikeout. Johnson struck out two more in the bottom of the inning, and through seven Lamar trailed 2-0.
 
A one-out walk of Logan Berlof reached second on a single by Avery George, and then it looked like Girouard would bring both home on what normally would be a double to center. The SFA center fielder made the diving catch and threw to second, getting Berlof in the double play. Two hits-by-pitch and two walks scored one for SFA, and a single up the middle put two more across. Through eight, Lamar trailed 5-0.

Chase Kemp wore one with two outs in the ninth and reached second on a single by Weyler, and it looked like Durand may give Lamar some life on a deep fly to right field. The ball drifted just foul as it sailed over the outfield wall, and Durand lined out to right on the next pitch. SFA won 5-0.

First pitch for Game 2 of the series is set for 2 pm on Saturday with Zach Bravo on the mound for Lamar.

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