NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin scored seven runs in the middle innings and never looked back defeating Lamar University, 9-2, Saturday afternoon in the first game of the series. The series, which was originally scheduled to start Friday, was pushed back a day due to heavy rains in the area.
 
Junior Jacob Ellis (3-4) got the start in the opener but went just 1.0 inning surrendering two runs – both earned – on two hits and was victimized by four walks. Due to the Cards' upcoming schedule, in addition to the altered weekend schedule for the SFA series, Ellis was placed on a pitch count. He was one of six Cardinals to take the mound Saturday.
 
The 'Jacks started Skylar Jaco who pitched 4.0 innings allowing just the one earned run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts. The victory went to Reid Boyett (1-1) out of the pen after giving up one run on two hits with a walk in 2.0 innings of work.
 
The Cardinals (28-21) scored their two runs on five hits with an error, while SFA plated nine runs on nine hits with two errors. Three different Cardinals recorded hits Saturday led by a 2-for-3 effort from Ethan Ruiz including his seventh home run of the season.
 
SFA scored two in the first inning before the Cardinals managed to get on the board in the top of the fourth on a Ruiz home run, unfortunately the Lumberjacks answered with a run of their own in the fourth followed by three in the fifth, two in the sixth and one more in the seventh to break the game open.
 
The originally scheduled three-game series has been reduced to a two-game series due to rains in the area. The two teams will close out the series Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest from Jaycees Field.