HAMMOND, La. (Interstat) — Brody Capps launched a game-tying, two-run homer in the eighth inning, setting the stage for a dramatic finish as Southeastern Louisiana walked off with an 8-7 victory over Stephen F. Austin in a back-and-forth afternoon contest Saturday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

The Lions, who won the series opener 8-1 on Friday, clinched the series and improved to 11-8 overall. The Lumberjacks fell to 10-9.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the late innings after Stephen F. Austin had seized momentum. Trailing 5-4 in the top of the sixth, the Lumberjacks erupted for three runs on a towering home run by shortstop Trey Acreman. His first homer of the season, a three-run shot to left field, scored Chaz Ibe and Sam Schneider to give Stephen F. Austin a 7-5 lead.

That advantage held into the bottom of the eighth. After Jack James issued a leadoff walk to Gabe Licciardi, Capps stepped in. The Lions’ first baseman, who had an RBI double earlier, connected on his sixth home run of the year, a blast to right-center that tied the game at 7-7 and erased the Lumberjacks’ hard-earned lead.

Stephen F. Austin threatened in the top of the ninth against reliever Truitt Webb, putting the leadoff man on with a single, but could not bring him home.

In the bottom of the ninth, Seanan Farney relieved James for the Lumberjacks. Alex Perry, who had already homered and driven in three, led off with a sharp single to left. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second. With two outs, pinch-hitter Bryce Priester lined a single into left field, scoring Perry from second to trigger the celebration for the home team.

The game featured several momentum swings. Southeastern Louisiana starter Lakin Polk worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out four. Stephen F. Austin starter Cody Templeton struggled with command, yielding five earned runs on five hits and four walks over five innings.

The Lions chipped away early against Templeton. They scored one in the second on a sacrifice bunt by Perry, added two in the third on an RBI double from Capps and a run-scoring single by Parker Williams, and pulled within 4-3 on Perry’s solo homer in the fourth.

Stephen F. Austin had built a 4-1 lead, capitalizing on a key error in the fifth. With two on and two out, shortstop Will Cuff misplayed a grounder, allowing two unearned runs to score. Ethan Pena added a solo homer in the sixth before Acreman’s big blast.

Capps finished 3 for 5 with three RBIs, and Perry went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. For Stephen F. Austin, Acreman’s three-run homer was the highlight of a nine-hit attack.

Logan Freche earned the win for Southeastern Louisiana after recording two critical outs in the eighth. Webb secured the win with a scoreless ninth. James took the loss for Stephen F. Austin, charged with two runs over three innings of relief.

The teams conclude the three-game series Sunday afternoon.