March 13, 2009

Final Stats

THIBODAUX, La. - Nicholls won both games of Friday's doubleheader, defeating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 13-3 in the first contest and 5-1 in the second. The series finale is set for tomorrow at 6 p.m.

"I was very pleased with our pitching staff today. Our starters set the tone early on, and our defense feed off of that," said head coach Chip Durham.

"We got some timely hits at key moments, and we played as a team today. I'm very proud of the team for playing the way they did today."

The Colonels pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts between the two games, while only allowing three runs and three walks. All three walks came in the second game.

In the first game, Nicholls was awarded the victory in the bottom of the eighth when the Colonels scored their 13th run of the game, giving them a 10-run advantage - 13-3 - that forced the umpires to call the game.

Getting the win in the first game to improve to 4-3 on the season was senior Lance Dupuis. Dupuis tossed 7.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, while fanning seven of the 25 batters that he faced.

The run support for the victory started in the bottom of the third when the Colonels put a four-spot on the scoreboard. The scoring started via a RBI infield single by junior Keith Kulbeth that plated junior Stephen Gauthe. Gauthe reached on error by Islander pitcher Justin Grota who took the loss for TAMUCC, falling to 2-1 on the season.

Junior Scott Moseley followed up with a RBI single to right field, while junior Adam Miley sealed the inning with a two-RBI base hit up the middle to give Nicholls the 4-0 advantage.

The Colonels (8-7, 3-2) added a run in the fourth via a sacrifice fly to left field by junior Kevin Schlegel to plate senior Josh Swenson. Swenson led off the inning with a double, his first of the 2009 season.

The Islanders (4-14, 0-5) added two in the fifth to make the score 6-2, but that is as close as they would come as they fell in eight to the Colonels 13-3.

Leading the way for the Colonels at the plate were Kulbeth, Miley, Schlegel, and junior Tyler Minto whom all had two RBI in the win. Kulbeth finished with a team best 3-for-5 performance that included a triple, two runs and two stolen bases.

In the second contest, Nicholls picked up right where it left off in the first game, scoring in the bottom of the first to take the 1-0 lead on a RBI single up the middle by Moseley. Coming home on the play was junior Chris Murrill who led off the game with a single.

Nicholls built on its lead in the fourth with back-to-back RBI doubles by juniors Josh Labiche and Jason Dennis to take the 3-0 lead. The Colonels continued to add to its total in the fifth with a RBI single by junior Tyler Minto to increase the lead to 4-0.

The Islanders would add one in the top of the sixth to make the score 4-1, however that is as close as they would come to mounting a comeback.

Picking up the win for the Colonels on the mound was junior Jarret Dunnam, improving to 2-2 on the season, while Islander Roy Ferdin was dubbed with the loss to fall to 1-3 on the season.

Leading the Colonels at the plate in the second game was Murrill with a perfect 3-for-3 performance to go along with two runs scored. Racking up a team best two-RBI was Moseley with a 1-for-3 showing that included a run.

Nicholls and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will close out the series tomorrow at 6 p.m. Fans can follow the game live on the internet via GameTracker at www.geauxcolonels.com.

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