NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Lamar University split its doubleheader in Friday's series opener against Stephen F. Austin at Pilgrim's Park.
The Cardinals fell 6-4 in Game 1 before the offense responded with an 11-3 victory in Game 2.
GAME 1
The Lumberjacks applied pressure early in the top of the first, scoring two runs on five hits.
After back-to-back singles opened the inning, Cermodrick Bland stole third and came home on a throwing error.
Mark Henning followed with a first‑pitch RBI single to left-center, giving SFA a 2-0 lead.
LU answered in the top of the third with a four‑run frame.
Hector Rodriguez sparked the rally with a single to left, and
Easton Culp drew a walk to set up an RBI single up the middle from
Tab Tracy.
A.J. Taylor moved both runners into scoring position before
Beau Durbin was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Braden Benton tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center, and
Kevin Duran was hit by a pitch— the second straight batter hit— to force in the go‑ahead run with two outs.
Lane Sparks kept the inning alive with a bunt RBI single.
SFA answered with a three‑run surge in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by a two‑run single up the middle from Ethan Pena.
The Lumberjacks added insurance in the seventh with an RBI single.
GAME NOTES
- Durbin extended his hitting streak to 14 games going 1 for 3 with a single and a walk.
- Tracy finished 1 for 4 with a single and an RBI.
- Brayden Evans had a double to go 1 for 3.
- Sparks also finished 1 for 3 with a single and an RBI.
- Hector Rodriguez went 1 for 4 with a single.
GAME 2
Jarret Williams worked four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out one.
SFA broke through in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI infield single by Cooper Schneider.
LU rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh after the first two batters reached on walks.
Duran dropped down a bunt, and the pitcher's throw sailed past the third baseman, allowing a run to score.
Following an intentional walk to Tracy to load the bases, Durbin worked a walk to put the Cardinals in front, 2-1.
Benton then delivered a clutch two‑RBI single to center.
The Lumberjacks trimmed the deficit in the bottom of the seventh when two runs came home on a throwing error.
LU broke the game open in the top of the eighth, erupting for seven runs.
The Cardinals sent 12 batters to the plate and collected five hits in the inning, with the first eight hitters all reaching safely.
Tracy capped the surge with a two‑RBI double past the diving left fielder while Sparks had a pair of RBI singles.
RECORDS: LU (9-6, 4-1); SFA (10-6, 3-2)
GAME NOTES
- Tracy had a four-hit night going 4 for 5 with three singles, a double, walk and two RBIs.
- Sparks brought in two runs going 2 for 4 with two singles and a walk.
- Taylor also had a two-hit night with two singles to finish 2 for 6 with an RBI.
- Benton tallied three RBIs while he went 1 for 3 with a single and a walk.
- Durbin extended his hitting streak to 15 games going 1 for 5 with a single, a walk and an RBI.
- Jake Wagoner had a single to finish 1 for 2 with an RBI, a walk and two runs scored.
- Williams has thrown 12.2 consecutive scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts in three starts.
- A.J. Kostic improved to 3-0 after fanning two batters in 2.2 innings of relief allowing two hits.
- LU's pitching staff finished with six strikeouts.
- Nathan Darden and Hayden Stallings did not allow a run in relief. The duo gave up one hit while tallying two strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The series concludes at 1 p.m. Saturday.
#PeckEmCards
