CYPRESS, La. (Interstat) — Thomas Marsala went 4 for 5 with a home run and four RBIs to lead Northwestern State to an 11-8 victory over Stephen F. Austin on Friday night at H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field.

The Demons improved to 24-18 overall, while the Lumberjacks fell to 21-20.

Stephen F. Austin erupted for eight runs in the top of the first inning, sending 13 batters to the plate. Julian Swift, Juan Cantua and the Lumberjacks battered Northwestern State pitching for seven hits in the frame, including Cantua’s two-run double. The Lumberjacks took advantage of a throwing error by third baseman McAloose that allowed two more runs to score, giving them an 8-0 lead.

Northwestern State answered immediately in the bottom of the first. Marsala led off with a solo home run to deep right field. Ethan Menard singled and Joe Siervo doubled, setting up a sacrifice fly from Simonelli and an RBI single by McAloose that cut the deficit to 8-3.

The game remained 8-3 until the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Demons broke through against the Stephen F. Austin bullpen. After a Simonelli single and an error by Bland allowed Simonelli to score, Huerta singled home McAloose to make it 8-5. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Marsala cleared them with a three-run double to right center, tying the game 8-8. Menard followed with an RBI single that gave Northwestern State its first lead at 9-8. The Demons sent 11 batters to the plate in the six-run inning.

The Lumberjacks threatened in the seventh but could not score. In the eighth, Marsala singled and later scored on Siervo’s RBI double. Siervo also scored on a throwing error, extending the lead to 11-8.

Stephen F. Austin’s bullpen showed glimpses of effectiveness. Reid Bowyer pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing no hits while striking out two. However, the Lumberjacks could not mount a rally after their first-inning outburst.

Cantua finished 3 for 5 with three RBIs for Stephen F. Austin. Swift also had three hits and drove in a run. The Lumberjacks collected 17 hits but left several runners on base.

For Northwestern State, Siervo went 3 for 5 with an RBI, and Menard finished 3 for 5 with an RBI. Carter White pitched two scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits and striking out one. Logan Trotter also threw two scoreless innings, giving up three hits.

Marsala’s performance was a bounce-back after a recent slump. He had gone 1 for 4 against Louisiana-Monroe on April 21 and was hitless in three of his previous four games.

The Lumberjacks had lost four of their last five games entering Friday, including a three-game sweep at the hands of Nicholls State. Northwestern State had dropped two straight, including a 4-1 loss to Louisiana-Monroe on Tuesday.

The two teams meet again Saturday in the second game of the three-game series. Northwestern State then travels to Arkansas for a two-game set, while Stephen F. Austin hosts Houston on Tuesday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Stephen F. Austin 5, Northwestern State 2. Interstat’s ELO system gave Northwestern State a 74.50 percent probability to win.