Lamar sports information

NACOGDOCHES – Tied at three runs apiece through eight innings, Lamar (16-35, 10-16 Southland) scored four runs in the top of the ninth to take a 7-3 victory Saturday in its second game against Stephen F. Austin (16-32, 8-18 Southland).

Logan LeJeune and Chase Kemp each had three hits and Noah Sills went seven innings with one strikeout and two earned runs on five hits.

Scoreless through two innings, SFA was the first to strike with two runs in the bottom of the third. A leadoff double was joined on the base paths after the next Lumberjack was walked and a bunt sac advanced both.

A one-out single scored the runner on third and pushed the Jack on second to third, and a passed ball scored the second run of the inning. A foul-out to third and a fielder’s choice ended the inning with SFA holding a 2-0 advantage over Lamar through three innings.

Lamar’s response came in the top of the fifth. Grant DeVore led off with a double to right field and had Avery George join him on the base paths when the freshman drew a one-out walk. A two-out double by Philip Ingram scored both DeVore and George, and after Sills sat the Lumberjacks down in order in the bottom of the inning, the game was tied 2-2 through five.

Clutch hitting gave the Cards their first lead of the day in the top of the sixth. Chase Kemp doubled to right with one out, and both he and DeVore reached scoring position when DeVore singled to right and reached second on an error by the right fielder. A sac fly to right from Chad McKinney gave Lamar a 3-2 lead, and Sills sat down the Jacks in order again in the bottom of the inning.

Ingram singled to right in the top of the seventh but was struck down in a double play, and a solo shot to left in the bottom of the inning with one out tied the game at 3-3.

LeJeune, Kemp, and McKinney all singled in the top of the eighth to load the bases with one out, but a double play ended the Cardinal threat. SFA also came within 90 feet of taking a lead in the bottom of the inning.

A lead-off single reached second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a sac bunt, and the next Lumberjack was intentionally walked. With runners on the corners the next batter hit into a fielder’s choice which Robin Adames threw home just before the runner on third arrived. After eight the game remained tied 3-3.

Cole Girouard wore one at the start of the ninth and reached third when Adames collected a one-out single. A sac bunt from Mike Leal scored Girouard and pushed Adames to second, and five consecutive walks brought three more Cardinals home safely.

Ryan Erickson allowed a one-out double and a two-out walk but struck out the final Lumberjack he faced to get his second win of the year.