Nicholls State University

Minto Goes the Distance, Nicholls Rallies for Win

April 3, 2010

ARLINGTON, Texas - Tyler Minto logged his third career complete game and first of the season, and the Nicholls State University baseball team (14-13, 5-7 Southland Conference) rallied from a first inning deficit to claim a 3-1 win over the Texas-Arlington Mavericks (14-14, 7-5 Southland). Nicholls avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of UT Arlington, and snapped a four-game losing skid heading into the finale of a three-game Southland Conference series at Clay Gould Ballpark on Saturday.

UT Arlington struck first as Preston Beck beat out a bases-loaded one-out double play ball to bring home a run and make it 1-0 after 1.0 innings.

However, Minto soon settled in, limiting UTA to five hits and three walks over 9.0 innings and keeping the Mavericks off the board the rest of the way. With Minto keeping the Maverick lineup in check, the Colonels set about mounting their rally.

Kevin Schlegel led off the top of the third with a single, advanced to second when Beck misplayed the ball in right field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. An RBI groundout off the bat of Bear Comer plated Schlegel and tied the game at 1-1.

After trading zeroes with the Mavs in the fourth, the Colonels took the lead for good in the fifth. Kasey Culverson reached on an error, and Schlegel beat out an infield single to put runners at first and second. Comer delivered once again as his RBI single brought Culverson home and staked Minto to a 2-1 lead.

Minto continued to cruise through the Maverick lineup, retiring 20 of 23 batters from the third through the ninth innings. The Colonels added an insurance run in the sixth as Keith Kulbeth legged out a bunt single and came home to score on a double by Adam Miley for the 3-1 margin.

With the win, Nicholls snapped a four-game losing skid and the Colonels avoided dropping below the .500 mark for the first time since Feb. 27 when Nicholls was 2-3.

Nicholls will now return to Louisiana for a midweek matchup against the Tulane Green Wave in New Orleans on Tuesday. First pitch at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium is set for 6:00 p.m. The Colonels will return to Thibodaux on April 9 for the opener of a three-game series against the Northwestern State Demons at Ray E. Didier Field.