March 20, 2008

Box Score

LAKE CHARLES, La. - McNeese State jumped out to an early 3-0 first-inning lead on a three-run homer by Taylor Freeman, forcing the Colonels to play catch-up through the remaining eight innings as the Cowboys (4-14, 1-3 SLC) defeated Nicholls 6-3 Thursday night in game one of a three-game series at Cowboy Diamond.

McNeese starter Tyler Davis claimed the win, improving to 2-4 as he went seven innings, surrendering three Colonel runs off of seven hits. He struck out six batters.

Seth Webster took the loss for Nicholls, evening his record at 1-1. Webster lasted 4.1 innings and gave up four runs on eight hits with four K's.

"I thought our pitchers did relatively well," said Nicholls head coach Chip Durham. "Seth [Webster] did a great job, but [Taylor] Freeman is their best hitter and he showed that tonight."

Freeman, who was responsible for four of the Cowboys' six runs, finished the night 3-for-4 with a home run, a triple and a single to his name.

The Colonels (4-14, 1-3 SLC) had several opportunities to make a dent in McNeese's lead, leaving runners stranded in scoring position in three different innings.

"They put the ball in play when they needed to and we didn't," added Durham. "I thought we could have done a better job offensively - getting hits in RBI situations."

Brandt Boudreaux, the only Colonel to post a multiple-hit game, went 2-for-4 and scored a run, extending his hitting streak to 13 games.

Jordy Toups went 1-for-4 at the plate, driving in his first career RBI on a double in the fourth inning that plated Anthony Wray.

The Colonels mounted a rally in the eighth, loading the bases on a single and two hit batsmen and scoring one run to cut the Cowboy lead to two, but McNeese got the run back in its half of the inning.

"I'm disappointed in the fundamental baseball part of this game for us," Durham noted. "We didn't put the ball in play when we needed to. We made one error on the day and that run came back across the plate. We had passed balls and wild pitches that moved runners into scoring position. That limits our range."

Nicholls and McNeese will square off in game two of the series Friday at 6:30 p.m. Right-handed pitcher Bryan Myers (0-0) will get the nod for the Colonels.

Fans can listen to the action live in Thibodaux on KTIB 640 AM or on-line at www.ThibodauxOnLine.com. Due to internet difficulties at McNeese, live stats will not be available.

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