HUNTSVILLE -- Designated hitter Kevin Croft went 4-for-5 with a double and 2 RBIs to lead Stephen F. Austin to an 8-6 Southland Conference baseball victory Friday afternoon at Don Sanders Stadium.

Kevin Thomas (6-4) spread seven hits over six innings to pick up the victory on the mound. Richard Folmer earned his fifth save of the season with three innings in relief. Matt Whatley hit a two-run home run in the top of the second inning.

Todd Sebek and Daniel Nottebart each batted in a pair of runs for the Bearkats. Guillaume Duguay (3-2) was the losing pitcher.

Stephen F. Austin stands 25-28 for the season and 12-17 in conference action. Sam Houston is 32-23 for the year and 17-12 in Southland play. The pair meet at 1 p.m. Saturday in the final regular season game for both teams.

The Lumberjacks struck quickly on a two-out RBI single by Sean Meyers in the first inning. Matt Whatley homered to right field to add two more in the second inning. In the third, Justin Roland and Zac Gardner had run scoring singles and Kevin Croft had an RBI double to put SFA up 6-0.

Sam Houston scored four runs on four runs, two walks, and an error in the bottom of the third inning. Todd Sebek had a run-scoring double and Keith Stein, Heath Pugh, and Daniel Nottebart added RBI singles.

Mat Whatley singled in another run in the top of the fifth to put the Jacks up 7-4.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Jaime Rohlmeier and Ryan Weber hit back-to-back singles and Rohlmeier scored on a ground out by Sebek to cut the margin to 7-5.

An RBI single by Croft scored Meyers who led off the seventh with a double as SFA increased its lead to 8-5.

Daniel Nottebart added an RBI single in the bottom of the second to cut the margin back to two runs, 8-6.

LINE SCORE

Stephen F. Austin 8, Sam Houston St 6 (May 16, 2008 at Huntsville, TX) (Game 1)

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Stephen F. Austin... 123 010 100 - 8 16 2 (25-28, 12-17 SLC)

Sam Houston St...... 004 001 100 - 6 10 1 (32-23, 17-12 SLC)

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Pitchers: Stephen F. Austin - Thomas, Kevin; Folmer, Richard(7). Sam Houston St -

Duguay, Guillaume; Skelton, Will(5); Shelton, Matt(7); Albright, Adam(8).

Win-Thomas, Kevin(6-4) Save-Folmer, Richard(5) Loss-Duguay, Guillaume(3-2) T-2:49 A-249

HR SFA - Whatley, Matt.

Duguay, G faced 1 batter in the 5th.

Skelton, W faced 1 batter in the 7th.