April 13, 2010
Box Score
MOBILE, Ala. - Adam Miley homered and went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs to extend his hitting streak, and the Colonels plated three in the top of the ninth, but it wasn't enough to overcome three big innings by the Jaguars as the Nicholls State University baseball team (15-17) fell to Sun Belt Conference power South Alabama (24-13) by a final of 13-7 on Tuesday night at Stanky Field.
The Colonels struck first as Miley launched a solo homer in the top of the first. The Baton Rouge native's sixth homer of the season staked Nicholls to an early 1-0 lead. The Colonels pushed their advantage to 2-0 in the second as Chase Jaramillo and Kasey Culverson led off the inning with consecutive walks and were advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Kevin Schlegel. Jaramillo came home on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
However, the Jaguar's high-powered lineup, which came into the contest ranked eighth in hits (416) and 12th in runs (297), struck in the second. South Alabama strung together four hits and took advantage of a Colonel error to plate four runs (three unearned) and take a 4-2 lead.
The Colonels rallied as Beau Faulk launched a two-run homer following a one-out walk to Miley, tying the score 4-4 in the top of the third. But, once again, South Alabama stormed back. South Alabama picked up solo home runs in the third and fourth and a three-run shot in the fifth to take a commanding 9-4 lead.
Meanwhile, the Jaguar bullpen kept the Colonels off the board from the fourth until the ninth. Following a four-run bottom of the eighth by the Jags, Nicholls rallied with three runs on three hits and a Jaguar error. However, the Colonel rally would prove to be too little too late, as South Alabama hung on for the 13-7 win.
The Colonels will return to campus before venturing north to take on Central Arkansas in Conway, Ark. Nicholls enters the three-game weekend series with the Bears tied for the eighth and final Southland Conference Tournament spot.
However, the Colonels are just 3.5 games removed from Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State for third-place. In a crowded conference race, the third through 12th place teams are separated by just 6.5 games.
The Colonels head into the weekend four wins shy of their first ten-win Southland Conference campaign since 2002, when Nicholls went 11-15 against Southland competition and finished in ninth place.
