CYPRESS, La. (Interstat) — Northwestern State defeated Stephen F. Austin 11-8 on Friday at H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field, rallying from an early eight-run deficit.

The Demons, now 24-18, trailed 8-0 after the top of the first inning as the Lumberjacks erupted for eight runs on six hits, including a two-run double by Juan Cantua and a throwing error that plated two more. Northwestern State answered immediately in the bottom half, with Thomas Marsala homering and the Demons scoring three to cut the lead to 8-3.

Stephen F. Austin added three runs in the fifth on Cantua’s RBI single and a groundout, making it 8-3. The Demons stormed back in the sixth, scoring six runs, capped by Marsala’s three-run double and an Ethan Menard RBI single to take a 9-8 lead. Northwestern State added two more in the eighth on Joe Siervo’s RBI double and a throwing error.

Marsala finished 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. Cantua was 3-for-5 with three RBIs. The Lumberjacks, now 21-20, had 17 hits to Northwestern State’s 19.