April 9, 2008

Box Score

THIBODAUX, La. - Southern pitchers held the Colonels to just one run and three hits, defeating Nicholls 6-1 Wednesday night at Ray E. Didier Field.

The Colonels fall to 6-26 on the season, while Southern improves to 15-11.

Belfred Pryer threw five innings of one-hit baseball, walking one batter and striking out two. Pryer improves to 1-0 on the season, facing just 17 batters on the night.

For Nicholls, Nathan Quebedeaux drops to 0-1, allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits and giving up two base-on-balls in 2.0 innings of work.

The Jaguars got on the board early, leading off the game with a Romey Bracey triple to right center field. A hit batsmen and two sacrifice flies later, Southern had a 2-0 lead.

"I'm just disappointed in the way we competed tonight," said head coach Chip Durham. "The game was over in the first inning."

Southern added three in the third, using back-to-back lead-off walks and Colonel errors to take a 5-0 advantage, and put up another insurance run in the ninth on an RBI double by Bracey.

The Colonels mounted a small comeback in the bottom half of the ninth as Shane Barksdale drove an RBI double to right center that brought Brandt Boudreaux in to score.

"Offensively, we didn't make any adjustments at the plate," said Durham. "There wasn't a lot of fight in our guys tonight and it's disappointing and frustrating."

Boudreaux, Barksdale and Patrick Thompson recorded the only hits of the night for the Colonels.

Nicholls got support on the mound out of the bullpen. Drew Erwin came in in relief, scattering three hits and one run through four innings. Joe Hagery and Dale Dickerson closed out the game for the Colonels. Hagerty fanned three and did not give up a hit in two innings of work.

"After the third, I felt like we pitched well and showed some positive things from guys who can help us out on the weekends," Durham added. "This weekend is an opportunity for us to pick up some conference wins - it's a big series for us. I just wish we could have gotten some momentum going into this weekend."

The Colonels travel to Conway, Ark., for a three-game SLC series with the Central Arkansas Bears. Friday night's first pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. Fans can listen live on KTIB 640 AM and on the internet at www.ThibodauxOnLine.com.

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