March 22, 2008

Box Score

LAKE CHARLES, La. - McNeese State scored eight runs off of eight hits and one Colonel error to sweep the series, defeating Nicholls 8-5 Sunday at Cowboy Diamond.

"Today was disappointing," said head coach Chip Durham. "We just didn't get it done in a must-win situation with our backs to the wall. We just didn't have any leadership step up for us today."

Ryan Frantz (1-4) threw 7.2 innings, surrendering four earned runs on six hits and striking out four Nicohlls batters. Justin LeBleu earned his second save of the weekend, with an inning and a half of relief.

Lance Dupuis falls to 0-3 on the season, taking the loss after 6.1 innings of work. Dupuis struck out a season-high seven, but allowed seven runs (five earned) on six hits.

The Colonels (4-16, 1-5 SLC) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on RBI basehits by Shane Barksdale and Anthony Wray, but quickly found themselves down, giving up three runs in the bottom half of the inning for the third-straight game.

"We came out and got some momentum early," added Durham, "but gave up a three-run first inning again. We made one error and that came back to haunt us because it brough a batter to the plate who never should have come up that inning and he ended up with a two-RBI double. Then we walked a guy in with the bases loaded and that makes a three-run difference

Nicholls battled back, putting two runs on the board in the third inning on a walk and two hits.

McNeese (6-14, 3-3 SLC) answered with three of their own in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead they would not relinquish.

Wray went 2-for-4 with two RBI on the day, while Brett Hoeflich, who was also 2-for-4, drove in one run.

Patrick Thompson drove a two-out, pinch-hit double down the right field line in the sixth inning to go 1-for-1 on the day. Corey Arceneaux pinch ran and came around to score when the next batter, Hoeflich, doubled down the left field line.

Sam Merrill, Shon Landry and Bryn Thompson all had a multi-hit game for the Cowboys.

Colonel reliever Jacob Sullivan had an impressive performance, striking out the only batter he faced. Sullivan was brought in with a 3-1 count on Cowboy Keith Patnode and threw two pitches to record the out and get the Colonels out of a jam.

The Colonels will travel to Pineville, La., for a midweek non-conference match-up with Grambling State on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.

Fans can listen live on KTIB 640 AM and on-line at www.ThibodauxOnLine.com.

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