NACOGDOCHES, Texas – A pitchers' duel followed by a slugfest – a game that went down to the very last pitch followed by a game that was pretty much over in the 2nd inning – that was the formula Lamar University used to sweep a WAC season-opening doubleheader against Stephen F. Austin Saturday afternoon at Jaycees Field. The Cardinals took the first game, 2-1, and followed that up with a 14-3 run-rule victory in the second game.
 
Junior Braxton Douthit (3-0) went 5.0 innings allowing the lone run on four hits, with seven strikeouts to pick up the victory in the first game. He was one of four pitchers used in the first game as LU's bullpen worked 4.0 innings of scoreless ball. Senior Jack Dallas pitched the final 2.0 innings to pick up his second save of the season. 
 
SFA's Joe Richter surrendered two runs on nine hits in seven innings but took the loss to fall to 1-2 on the season.
 
Big Red collected nine hits from seven different players, including multi-hit efforts from Ryan Snell and Kelby Weyler. Snell was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Weyler finished the first game 2-for-3 with a run scored. Big Red's other RBI came off the bat of Ethan Ruiz (1-for-3).
 
The first game of the doubleheader shaped up to be a pitchers' duel. After the Cardinals got a first inning run, the score remained unchanged until the bottom of the fifth. The Cardinals plated their run by taking advantage of an error to start the game. Kevin Bermudez was the beneficiary of the Lumberjacks' fielding blunder and moved to second on a single through the right side (off the bat of Reese Durand). Bermudez came around to score two batters later when Snell singled to left field.
 
For a while, it appeared the one run would be all the Cardinals would need as Douthit carried a shoutout into the fifth inning. The Lumberjacks had runners on in the first two innings but Douthit, and the defense behind him, were crafty in weaving their way through traffic. Douthit then sat next six batters he faced down in order.
 
LU's luck ran out in the bottom of the fifth when the Lumberjacks got a one-out single and took advantage of a walk and two wild pitches to tie the game. LU fans didn't have to wait long for a response as Big Red was back on the attack in the next half inning. 
 
The Cardinals got a couple of two-out hits from Weyler (single) and Ethan Ruiz (double) to reclaim the lead in the top of the sixth. Despite the lead, the Cardinals' bullpen had to work their way out of more trouble with SFA getting runners on second and third (with just one out) in the seventh, and a runner on third and two out in the eighth, but both times the bullpen was up to the challenge.
 
LU managed to load the bases with two outs in the top of the ninth, but the Cardinals were unable to break through in the inning. Fortunately, it didn't matter as Dallas came on for his second inning of work and slammed the door shut.
 
Senior Adam Wheaton (3-0) got the start in game two and went 6.0 innings to get the win. He allowed just three runs – all earned – on six hits with three walks and struck out nine Lumberjacks. 
 
SFA started Dayton Dewberry (1-3) in the second game, but the Garrison native lasted 1.1 innings before being lifted after surrendering six runs – all earned – on five hits with two walks (one home run) and no punch outs. 
 
The Cardinals finished the second game with 14 hits, which included a double and two home runs. After being held hitless in the first game, Blankenship responded in the second going 3-for-4 at the plated with two runs scored. Blankenship was one of nine Cardinals to get a hit in the second, and one of four to get at least two. Weyler finished the second game 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, while senior Chase Kemp was 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs, three runs scored and two walks. Junior  catcher Kyle Harper launched the Cardinals other home run.
 
The second game was the complete opposite of the first. After going nine innings with neither team hanging a crooked number on the scoreboard, LU changed that immediately in the first inning of game two. After consecutive one-out walks, the Cards got a single from Blankenship to load the bases. Snell drove home the first run on a sacrifice to centerfield. Weyler singled home Durand three pitches later.
 
The Cardinals broke the game open with a seven-run second inning. LU scored their runs on six hits, with the big blast coming off the bat of Chase Kemp – a three-run shot to right field – for his first home run of the season. The Cardinals took a 9-2 advantage in the bottom half of the inning and that would be all the offense they would need despite tacking on three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. The Lumberjacks were unable to get the deficit back within 10 in their final two at bats as the Cardinals took the run-rule victory.
 
The Cardinals will close out the three-game series Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch from Jaycees Field.