SUGAR LAND, Texas – Lamar University hung three runs on the board in the top of the first inning and got 6.0 strong innings from senior Brooks Caple (1-1) as the Cardinals defeated Stephen F. Austin, 5-0, Saturday evening at Constellation Field.
 
The victory moves LU to 4-2 (.667) on the season and 2-0 in the Sugar Land Classic.
 
Caple gave the Cardinals a quality start going 6.0 strong inning allowing just one hit (two walks) while striking out nine. He was relieved by Austin Neal in the 7^th inning who was just as impressive. Neal was every bit as impressive as Caple allowing just one hit while striking out six Lumberjacks.
 
Lamar's bats gave the pitching staff three early runs to work with and it was more than enough offense as LU hung three in the first and added solo runs in the eighth and ninth innings.
 
The Cardinals finished the game with nine hits coming from seven different players, led by a multi-hit game from Weston Peninger (2-for-4, run).
 
After getting the first batter to pop out the Lumberjacks' Reid Boyett proceeded to give up three consecutive singles – including an RBI single by River Orsak – and two walks. In addition to Orsak's RBI, Logan Hamm drove in a run with a seven-pitch walk followed by a sack fly from Drake Varnado.
 
While the Cardinals would score again, the first-inning offense would be all Caple and LU would need.
 
In the eighth inning, Ethan Ruiz got a leadoff double and eventually advanced to third on a wild pitch. Again, it was Varnado driving in the run with a sacrifice fly. It was a similar situation in the ninth as Peninger led off the inning with a double and was eventually brought home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jack Schell.
 
The Cardinals return to action Sunday when they close out the Sugar Land Classic against UTSA. The game against the Roadrunners will begin at 2 p.m. from Constellation Field.