SUGAR LAND, Texas – Lamar University got seven strong innings from junior Jacob Ellis, and two shutout innings from the bullpen, to defeat Stephen F. Austin, 2-1, Saturday evening at Constellation Field and improve to 7-0 on the season.
 
Ellis (1-0) went 7.0 strong surrendering one earned run on just four hits with eight strikeouts and no walks – the lone run coming in the sixth inning. Ellis gave way to Kole Tauzin who pitched a scoreless eighth and senior Daniel Cole picked up his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth.   
 
The Lumberjacks started Cade Stapleton who went 6.0 innings allowing two runs – one earned – on five hits with two strikeouts, but also walked three batters and hit one. SFA's bullpen pitched two scoreless innings.
 
Four different Cardinals got in the hit column Saturday led by a 2-for-4 effort from Kirkland Banks.
 
Lamar scored the first run of the game after senior Ryan Snell led off the second with a double. After the next two batters flied out it appeared Snell would be stranded when Jack Schell hit a grounder to second base, but a throwing error allowed Schell to reach and Snell to score from second.
 
The Cardinals' second run came on a two-out rally. Kevin Bermudez and Ben MacNaughton singled to get runners on first and second. After a double steal and a walk to Kanin Dodge, Josh Blankenship managed to draw a base on balls scoring Bermudez. SFA answered back with a run in their half of the sixth but that was all the offense they could muster on a night that belonged to the pitchers.
 
The Cardinals will put their win streak on the line Sunday when they close out the Sugar Land Classic Sunday against host Houston Christian. The game against the Huskies is slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch.