MONROE - Stephen F. Austin freshman starting pitcher Brett Rogers made his first collegiate start a memorable one as he held Northwestern State to just two runs in eight innings of work as the Lumberjacks downed the Demons 7-2 on the final day of the Warhawk Baseball Classic.
The loss was the second straight for the Demons as they fall to 1-2. NSU will open its home season on Tuesday at 6 against Grambling. SFA improves to 1-2 on the young season.
NSU starting pitcher Clayton Cooper, who faced just 14 batters in the game, took the loss after throwing 2.2 innings and giving up four runs off four hits with two walks.
Offensively, the Demons outhit the Lumberjacks 11-9 but stranded six runners on base, four of those in scoring position.
NSU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when designated hitter D.D. Lott led off the inning with a singe and made his way around the bases on a single by second baseman Chase Lyles and on to third no a sacrifice bunt from shortstop Dan Meyer.
Lott scored on a single by catcher Garret Vaughn and Lyles’ attempt to score was halted at the plate when he was thrown out by the SFA left fielder.
SFA came back with three runs in the bottom of the inning on a bases loaded walk to Ryan Sinclair followed by a two-run single by center fielder Zach Gardner to make it 3-1.
Demon first baseman Justin O’Neal knocked in NSU’s second and final run of the game in the top of the third to cut the gap to 3-2 but the Lumberjacks got it back in the bottom of the inning off a lead-off home run from Bo Coffman.
Coffman got his second RBI of the game in the next inning on a sacrifice fly and the Lumberjacks added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to go up 7-2.
Vaughn finished the game 2 for 4 from the plate with a RBI while third baseman Joe Urtuzuastegui went 2 for 3 with a run scored.
Demon starter Jimmy Heard, who tossed five strong innings in NSU’s 8-3 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Friday, was named to the All-Classic team.