May 2, 2009

Final Stats

THIBODAUX, La. - Nicholls baseball team held a 5-4 advantage heading into the final inning, but could not hold onto the lead as Southeastern La. rallied to score two in the ninth to take the 6-5 decision on Saturday afternoon at Ray E. Didier Field.

"We played hard enough to win the game, but just had it slip away," said Head Coach Chip Durham. "Our guys know what is at stake here for our season, and I am confident that they will rebound from this."

Suffering the loss for the Colonels in the circle was senior Ross Larson, tossing 2.1 innings, allowing two runs with only one being earned. Larson now stands 1-5 on the season. Dubbed with the win for the Lions was starter Brandon Efferson, improving to 5-4 on the year as he carried his team through the eighth inning.

Standing out at the plate was junior catcher Jason Dennis with his 2-for-4 performance that included two runs, two RBI and two doubles.

Southeastern La. (30-17, 17-9) cracked the scoreboard first in the top of the third with a three-run half, and Nicholls (18-27, 8-18) responded with a run in the bottom portion making the score 3-1 after three complete.

The Lions added a run in the top of the fifth to go up 4-1, but in the bottom of the seventh, the Colonels turned their bats on, scoring four runs to take the 5-4 lead. The first two runs came on a two-RBI double to leftfield by Dennis. The next run to tie the game at four-all came on a sacrifice fly by junior Brady Bourque to centerfield that scored junior Zach Tisdale from third.

The final run came on an RBI triple to deep centerfield by junior Chris Murril that plated Dennis. On the play, Murrill was thrown out at home plate trying to stretch his triple into an in the park homerun.

The game remained in the Colonels hands until the top of the ninth when junior Keith Kulbeth committed a throwing error to put the tying run at second base with one out. On the ensuing at bat, Lions Ty Summerlin hit a RBI single up the middle that tied the game, and then Brandon Street followed up with the fielder's choice that brought home what proved to be the winning run.

In the bottom half, Nicholls left the tying run on second as Murrill grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.

The series finale will take place at Alumni Field in Hammond tomorrow at 1 p.m. Fans can follow the game at www.ThibodauxOnline.com.

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