Feb. 25, 2009

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Colonels put up a fight, holding off the No. 23 team in the nation for nine innings, but a walk-off homerun by Bama right fielder Kent Matthew in the bottom of the tenth gave the Tide an 8-7 victory and a sweep in the midweek series.

Alabama caught up to Nicholls (3-2) in the ninth on an RBI double to center by Jake Smith. Cal Tinsley pinch-ran for Smith and scored the tying run, sending the game to extra innings with a 7-7 tie.

Nicholls recorded 14 hits on the night, including seven off of Alabama's starter Austin Graham who was responsible for all seven Colonel runs.

Sophomore Drew Erwin (Alvin, Texas/Alvin) took the loss for Nicholls, coming in for the 10th and surrendering the homer to the only batter he faced.

Juniors Kevin Schlegel (Oklahoma City, Okla./Northeast Texas CC), Chris Murrill (Mobile, Ala./Alabama Southern CC) and Keith Kulbeth each singled in the top of the third and came around to score, putting the Colonels on top 3-0.

After a run in the fourth on a sac fly by Schlegel that plated junior Zach Tisdale (Petal, Miss./Pearl River CC), the Colonel bats exploded. Murrill led off the inning with a single, and later scored when junior Scott Moseley (Enterprise, Miss./Meridian CC). A batter later, junior Eric Douglas (Vicksburg, Miss./Hinds CC) drove a pinch-hit two-RBI single through the left side, scoring Moseley and Kulbeth.

Alabama (3-2) got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Tyler Odle homered to right field for two runs. The Tide would send four across before the inning was over, cutting Nicholls' lead to 7-4.

Colonel starter Tyler Minto (Mobile, Ala./Alabama Southern CC) scattered four hits through 4.2 innings, fanning three. The right-hander held the Tide scoreless through four innings.

Designated hitter Adam Miley (Baton Rouge, La./Bossier Parrish CC) went 4-for-5 to lead the Colonels at the plate, while Murrill turned in a 3-for-5 performance with two runs scored.

Kulbeth and Douglas also recorded multi-hit games, and Douglas led Nicholls with two RBI.

The Crimson Tide added a run in the eighth as Vin DiFazio sent an two-out RBI double to left that plated Matthes.

Senior Ryan Harding (Shawnee, Kan./Crowder College) gave 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out two of the four batters he faced.

Alabama caught up in the ninth on an RBI double to center by Jake Smith. Cal Tinsley pinch-ran for Smith and scored the tying run, sending the game to extra innings.

Nicholls travels to Starkville, Miss., for a three-game weekend series at Mississippi State. First pitch of the weekend will be at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon.

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