March 6, 2009

Box Score

BEAUMONT, Texas - Behind a 4-for-5 performance at the plate from junior Josh Labiche (Reserve, La./Delgado CC), Nicholls opened Southland Conference play on a good note, claiming a 9-5 win over Lamar at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

Senior Ross Larson (New Lenox, Ill./Lurleen B. Wallace CC) picked up the win, improving to 1-0 on the season, scattering four hits through 3.1 innings of relief. The righthander walked three and did not allow a run after entering the game in the fourth inning.

"We didn't get the start out of [Lance] Dupuis that we normally get," said Colonel skipper Chip Durham. "That happens sometimes. But our bullpen did a great job. Ross Larson came in and pitched really well and Lance Guidroz came in and backed him up."

For Lamar (10-2, 0-1 SLC), Matt Gore took the loss, falling to 1-1 on the year with two Colonel runs on four hits and a walk through 0.2 innings of work.

After finding themselves down 4-1 in the fourth, the Colonels rallied as Labiche drove a bases-loaded single through the right side, plating Moseley and Miley to cut the Cardinal lead to one (4-3).

Nicholls (5-5, 1-0 SLC) took the lead for good in the fifth as centerfielder Chris Murrill (Mobile, Ala./Alabama Southern CC) led off the inning with a three-bagger to right center.

"We got down early and our hitters stayed with it," said Durham. "Lamar has a really good ball club and they threw really tough pitchers tonight. But our hitters kept battling and battling and eventually put the ball in play and put pressure on [Lamar]. We finally got hot and scored some runs."

Back-to-back singles from second baseman Keith Kulbeth (Opelousas, La./Westminister Christian Academy) and rightfielder Scott Moseley (Enterprise, Miss./Meridian CC) and two more hits from leftfielder Josh Swenson (Applevalley, Minn./North Iowa Area CC) and Labiche, as well as a walk issued to first baseman Tyler Minto (Mobile, Ala./Alabama Southern CC) put the Colonels on top 6-4 after four and a half.

The Colonels added insurance with two in the seventh and another in the ninth thanks to Cardinal errors, running the score to 9-4.

Labiche finished with four RBI, scoring a run himself. Swenson turned in a 2-for-3 outing with one run scored, while Moseley, who also finished 2-for-3 at the plate, scored three runs and drew two walks.

Colonel starter Lance Dupuis (Crowley, La./Lurleen B. Wallace CC) lasted three innings, giving up four runs on six hits and four walks.

Righty Lance Guidroz (Lockport, La./Santa Fe CC) threw 2.2 innings of one-run relief, fanning four of the 12 batters he faced.

With a 9-4 lead heading to the bottom of the ninth, the Cardinals threatened, scoring a run on an RBI double to right by Lamar centerfielder Quentin Luquette and loading the bases with a walk and an infield single before Guidroz got Lamar catcher Ryan Saldivar to ground into a fielder's choice to end the inning and the game.

"I'm just really proud of our guys," Durham added. "To come out on Friday night and win a ball game is big, especially on the road against a really good team like Lamar. I'm really proud of our guys and we enjoyed the win tonight, but now we've got to go back and get ready to come out and win again tomorrow."

The Colonels and Cardinals will meet again Saturday at 2 p.m. for game two of a three-game series. Fans can follow the action live by clicking the GameTracker link at www.GeauxColonels.com.

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