NACOGDOCHES — Three Stephen F. Austin pitchers combined to pitch a seven-hit shutout against UTSA in a 2-0 decision on Saturday at Jaycees Field.
The Lumberjacks (22-10, 10-4 SLC) scored a pair of first-inning runs, which was more than enough.
SFA received seven-plus scoreless innings from right-handed starter pitcher Jared West (5-1), who scattered seven hits, walked a pair and struck out one. Alex Moshier pitched the rest of the seventh and fanned one before giving way to Jason West, who struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his sixth save of the season.
Senior Taylor Walton (4-4) went the distance for the Roadrunners (12-21, 5-9 SLC) and was saddled with the loss after allowing two runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out four.
Darren Crabtree singled through the left side in the first to plate Jarid Scarafiotti. Crabtree was caught in a rundown between first and second when Jackson Hood broke for home. Senior Ryan Hutson's throw was on time, but Hood's head-first slide knocked the ball from senior Tyler Carpenter's mitt for the second run of the inning.
UTSA had its chances in the middle frames.
The Roadrunners stranded a runner at third base in the fourth, sixth and seventh, but its best chance came in the fifth when redshirt freshman RJ Perucki doubled down the right-field line and freshman Mike Warren was thrown out at the plate on a relay throw from Scarafiotti.
UTSA outhit Stephen F. Austin, 7-5, but stranded eight runners on the day.
Juniors Matthew James and Casey Selsor both went 2-for-4 to pace the Birds.
Sunday's rubber game is scheduled for 1 p.m.
