March 28, 2010
Box Score
THIBODAUX - After falling behind the most prodcutive lineup in the Southland Conference 14-2 lead after six-and-a-half innings, the Nicholls State University baseball team (13-9, 4-4 Southland Conference) scored eight runs to cut the deficit to 14-10 heading into the ninth. However, the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (14-7, 5-2 Southland) plated three more in the top of the ninth to clinch a 17-10 win in the rubber match of a three-game Southland series at Ray E. Didier Field in Thibodaux on Sunday.
The Colonels actually struck first against SFA starter Brett Rogers, as senior DH Adam Miley led off the top of the second with a solo home run, his fifth of the season to make it 1-0.
However, SFA (heading into the game with a league-leading .324 team batting average) quickly answered by sending ten men to the plate in the top of the third. After Colonels' senior right hander Tyler Minto retired the first two batters of the inning, SFA strung together seven consecutive two-out hits to plate five runs and chase Minto from the game.
After Nicholls made it a 5-2 game with a bases-loaded walk to Cody Dufrene in the bottom of the third, the Lumberjacks put together another five run frame. This time the Jacks sent 12 batters to the plate. SFA claimed a 10-2 lead thanks to five runs on five hits and two Colonel errors.
SFA increased its lead to 14-2 as four more runs crossed the plate in the Jacks' sixth inning.
However, Nicholls finally broke through in the home half of the sixth as Keith Kulbeth's pinch-hit RBI triple ignited a four-run inning and make it 14-6. The Colonels pulled even closer in the seventh as three hits and a pair of walks off of SFA pitching led to three more runs to make it 14-9 after seven. An RBI single by Bear Comer in the bottom of the eighth drove in Brady Bourque to make it 14-10. However, Alex Moshier came on for the Jacks and kept Nicholls off the board over the final 1.1 IP and SFA strung together four more hits to plate three more runs in the top of the ninth to put the game out of reach for the final 17-10 margin.
The two teams combined for 33 hits, 14 extra base hits (9 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR), 20 walks and 31 runners stranded.
The Colonels will return to action on Tuesday when they visit Southland Field in Houma for the finale of a five-game season series with the Southern University Jaguars.
