NACOGDOCHES, Texas _ A trio of Stephen F. Austin pitchers held the University of Central Arkansas Bears in check on Friday in the Southland Conference season opener as the Lumberjacks won 8-2 at Jaycees Field.

SFA starter Tyler Herriage (1-1) went six innings, striking out five and allowing one earned run for the victory. Brad Oates and Chase Wier combined for three scoreless innings in relief. The three allowed only six hits and struck out seven.

The Bears (8-6, 0-1) opened the scoring in the top of the first when Michael Pair led off with a base hit to center field. Ethan Harris reached on a throwing error by pitcher Tyler Herriage on a sacrifice bunt. Bryan Willson attempted another sacrifice bunt but Pair was thrown out at third.

Jonathan Houston followed with a walk and Michael Marietta’s sacrifice fly to center scored Harris for a 1-0 lead.

The ‘Jacks (9-5, 1-0) answered with two runs in the bottom of the first on a two-run home run by Darren Crabtree, then added two more in the second inning for a 4-1 lead. UCA got one run back in the sixth with Jordan Getchell’s RBI single that scored Jonathan Houston, who had led off the inning with a walk.

SFA added a run in the bottom of the inning, then tacked on three more in the seventh for an 8-2 advantage. Garrett Smith hit a three-run double off UCA reliever Andy Steinmetz.

UCA starter Evan Cox (1-2) lasted six innings and allowed seven hits, five earned runs and struck out four.
Junior third baseman Bryan Willson went 2 for 4 as the only UCA player with multiple hits. Smith was 2 for 3 with three RBI for the ‘Jacks, while Jackson Hood and Bryce Cummings also had two hits each.

Game 2 of the series will be at 2 p.m. Saturday.