NACOGDOCHES, Texas (Interstat) — In a back-and-forth opener of a doubleheader at Jaycees Field on Friday, the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks rallied from an early four-run deficit to defeat the Lamar Cardinals 6-4.

The game, which saw both teams move to 9-6 on the season, was defined by a pivotal fifth-inning rally by the Lumberjacks and a dominant relief appearance by Stephen F. Austin’s Jack James to seal the victory.

Lamar struck first, capitalizing on Stephen F. Austin starter Gabriel LeBlanc’s early struggles. After two quiet innings, the Cardinals erupted for four runs in the top of the third. The rally was built on patience and timely hitting, featuring an RBI single by Tracy, a sacrifice fly from Benton and run-scoring hit-by-pitches and bunts. When the dust settled, Lamar held a 4-0 advantage.

Stephen F. Austin immediately chipped away in the bottom of the first, scoring twice without the benefit of a hit. Bland scored on a throwing error after stealing third, and Mark Henning later drove in Creel with a single to left-center, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the bottom of the fifth inning. After Lamar reliever Fabian Ramirez provided two scoreless innings, Ty Dagley entered for the Cardinals. Dagley struggled with command, issuing a walk and a hit batter to load the bases with one out. Ethan Pena then delivered the key blow, lacing a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 4-4. The inning continued to unravel for Lamar as Henning scored on a passed ball to give the Lumberjacks their first lead at 5-4. The three-run inning was fueled by a combination of Lamar’s control issues and Stephen F. Austin’s opportunistic hitting.

Stephen F. Austin added a crucial insurance run in the seventh. Henning led off with a bunt single, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Juan Cantua, extending the lead to 6-4.

That margin was more than enough for Lumberjacks reliever Jack James, who was the star of the game. Entering in the top of the seventh, James stifled the Lamar offense over the final three innings. He allowed just one hit, a single to Durbin in the eighth, and struck out two while facing the minimum. His performance slammed the door on any potential Cardinal comeback, preserving the win for LeBlanc, who went six innings and allowed all four Lamar runs on four hits.

Lamar’s offense, which managed only five hits total, was held in check after its four-run third inning. Stephen F. Austin’s batters collected 10 hits, led by multi-hit games from Pena, Cantua, Henning and Creel.

The victory went against pregame projections, as Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a 6-5 Lamar win, and its ELO system gave the Cardinals a 79.10 percent probability of victory.

Both teams were set to continue the series with the second game of the doubleheader later Friday.