SFA gets back into win column

Thomas' pitching, Crabtree's bat lead Lumberjacks past Texas-Arlington, 9-1

A day after their nine-game winning streak came to a halt, the SFA Lumberjacks began what they hope to be another winning streak.

Kevin Thomas pitched a complete game, and senior Kevin Crabtree had three RBI to lead the Lumberjacks to a 9-1 Mother's Day victory over Texas-Arlington in a Southland Conference baseball contest Sunday afternoon at Jaycees Field in their final home game.

"We took two out of three this weekend and hope to do the same next weekend," SFA head coach Donnie Watson said. "Nicholls needs to do its job (against Southeastern Louisiana)."

However, after Southeastern Louisiana took a 12-2 win over Sam Houston Sunday to take two games in the series, the Lumberjacks will be better served if they sweep the rival Bearkats in their series that starts Thursday in Huntsville.

With Sunday's victory, SFA moved to 24-26 overall and 11-15 in the SLC. Central Arkansas (11-15-1), which finished in an 11-11 tie with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Sunday, is tied with SFA in the ninth spot. Texas-Arlington (13-14) and Southeastern Lousiaina (13-14) hold the final two conference tournament slots heading into the final weekend.

Central Arkansas hosts Northwestern State in its final series, while Texas-Arlington will host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Southeastern Lousiana will be on the road against Nicholls State.

For the second start in a row, Thomas allowed an early home run, but was on target the rest of the way. He improved to 5-4 by allowing only one run and six hits in nine innings. He struck out eight Mavericks and walked four.

Steffan Guest hit his first home run of the season in the second inning to give UTA the early lead. The Lumberjacks responded with an unearned run in both the second and third innings to take the lead for good.

The Lumberjacks added three runs in the fifth, two in the seventh and two in the eighth on a two-run single by Crabtree.

Crabtree, a senior left fielder, was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. The reigning SLC Hitter of the Week was 8-for-13 in the series with two home runs and nine RBI.

"He's been carrying us," Watson said. "Our seniors got the job done offensively."

Juniors Kai Kirby and Sean Meyers also got the job done with two hits each. Kirby also added to his conference-leading stolen base mark with two more to give him 26 on the season.