Seven-Run Fourth Sinks Colonels in Series Opener

Seven-Run Fourth Sinks Colonels in Series Opener

March 26, 2010

Box Score

THIBODAUX - The Colonels jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but a seven-run top of the fourth by the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (14-6, 5-1 Southland Conference) doomed the Nicholls State University baseball team (12-9, 3-4 Southland Conference) en route to a 9-2 loss in the opener of a three-game Southland series on Friday night at Ray E. Didier Field.

After a scoreless first, the Colonels jumped out to an early lead thanks to a two-run second. Nicholls sent eight men to the plate against SFA starter Tyler Herriage in the frame, and Kevin Schlegel and Bear Comer delivered RBi singles. Unfortunately, for the Colonels, Tristan Rogers was thrown out trying to score on Comer's single and Herriage struck out Keith Kulbeth with the bases loaded to limit the damage.

Colonel starter Jarret Dunnam cruised through the first 3.0 IP, retiring the first nine batters he faced. However, Dunnam ran into trouble in the fourth as Jacks exploded for seven runs on six hits against Dunnam and reliever Cullen Babin. A two-run homer by Darren Crabtree and a three-run blast by Bo Coffman were the biggest blows as SFA went up 7-2 and chased Dunnam after just 3.1 IP.

From there, Herriage took advantage of the big lead by shutting down the Colonels the rest of the way. After their two-run second, the Colonels managed just two base runners and no hits off of Herriage the rest of the night. Meanwhile, SFA increased its lead with one each in the fifth and eighth to make it 9-2.

The Colonels tried to mount one last rally in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases against Alex Moshier, but the Lumberjack closer coaxed a bases-loaded two-out line out to right field off the bat of Chase Jaramillo to end it.

The Colonels will look to pull even in the three-game series when they send left hander Clint Dempster to the mound for Saturday's game two. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Ray E. Didier Field. Live stats will be available via gametracker at www.geauxcolonels.com, and a streaming audio webcast will be made available at www.ThibodauxOnline.com.