Feb. 28, 2009

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Nicholls dropped both games of a doubleheader at Mississippi State Saturday afternoon, falling 10-8 in game one, and dropping a 6-3 decision in the second game.

The Colonels (3-4) and Bulldogs were schedule to play Friday night, but due to inclement weather in the Starkville area, the game was changed to a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

Game One:

First baseman Tyler Minto (Mobile, Ala./Alabama Southern CC) went 3-for-4 at the plate, scoring three times, but Mississippi State's Connor Powers homered twice as the Bulldogs won 10-8 in the first game of a doubleheader at Dudy Noble Field Saturday afternoon.

Colonel starter Lance Dupuis (Crowley, La./Lurleen B. Wallace CC) fell to 1-1 with the loss, allowing nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits. The senior right-hander fanned three and issued three walks through 4.1 innings of work.

Nicholls got on the board in the third, as catcher Kevin Schlegel (Oklahoma City, Okla./Northeast Texas CC) led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch. Schlegel advanced when shortstop Steven Gauthe (Belle Rose, La./Copiah Lincoln CC) doubled to center and came in to score two batters later.

The Colonel bats came alive in the fourth and fifth as Nicholls plated three in each inning. Minto led off the Colonel half of the fourth with a double to right center and later scored as part of a two-RBI double by Schlegel.

In the fifth, three singles and smart base-running gave the Colonels three more runs, cutting the Bulldog lead to 8-7.

Schlegel finished 1-for-4 at the plate, driving in three RBI and scoring two runs.

Senior Ross Larson (New Lenox, Ill./Lurleen B. Wallace CC) threw 2.2 innings of one-run relief, striking out three Bulldogs and did not allow a walk, while senior Ryan Harding (Shawnee, Kan./Crowder College) pitched one inning of scoreless relief in the ninth.

Game Two:

Minto was the only player to record a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI as the Colonels fell 6-3 in game two.

Mississippi State jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, scoring a run in each the first and second innings and putting two more on the board in the third.

Nicholls cut the Bulldog lead in half with two of their own in the fourth, as the Colonels took advantage of two errors by Mississippi State. The Bulldogs stumbled again in the fifth when Gauthe singled and advanced on a Mississipi State error, eventually scoring the third run of the game for the Colonels.

Starter Jarrett Dunnam (Saraland, Ala./Alabama Southern CC) gave up four runs (three earned) in the loss as he fell to 1-1 on the year. The lefty struck out three through five innings of work.

Relievers Drew Erwin (Alvin, Texas/Alvin) and Lance Guidroz (Lockport, La./Santa Fe CC) combined to give up four hits and two runs in four innings out of the bullpen.

The Colonels will wrap up a five-game SEC road swing Sunday, facing the Bulldogs in a 1:30 p.m. first pitch.

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