Box Score and Play-by-Play

RUSTON, La. - Opening Day was a big day for senior shortstop Chase Jaramillo, who, with the Colonels trailing by a run in the bottom of the seventh, delivered a grand slam home run and drove in all five runs on the day to lead the Nicholls State University baseball team (1-0) to a 5-2 victory over Grambling (0-1) on day one of the 2011 Louisiana Tech Classic.

The season opener for both teams proved to be a pitcher's duel early on as Grambling's staff ace, Adrian Turner limited the Colonels to just one run on four hits and three walks through the first 6.0 innings.  Nicholls' starter Seth Webster was just as effective, holding the Tigers to just one run on five hits while striking out three and walking none in his 5.0 innings of work.

The Tigers struck first, scoring on an RBI groundout in the top of the third.  Nicholls answered in the bottom half of the frame, however, as senior outfielder Bear Comer reached on a fielder's choice with two outs and Jaramillo followed with an RBI double, plating Comer and tying the score at 1-1.

After both teams traded zeroes in the fourth and fifth, Grambling, a 2010 NCAA Regional Qualifier, reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth when Tiger outfielder Brian Knuckles belted a solo homer off of Nicholls reliever Dalton Torres to lead off the inning and put Grambling up 2-1.

But, Nicholls finally broke through against Turner in the bottom of the seventh.  Junior designated hitter Blake Bergeron drew a lead off walk and advanced to second on a single up the middle by junior third baseman Mace Krol.  After senior catcher Jason Dennis' sacrifice bunt attempt was popped up at home plate, junior second baseman Austin Flores grounded into a fielder's choice for the second out of the inning.  Fortunately, Comer kept the inning alive, and loaded the bases, by drawing his second walk of the afternoon, and Jaramillo followed by driving the first pitch he saw from Turner over the left field fence to complete a 2-for-4, 5 RBI day and put Nicholls up 5-2.

The Tigers threatened in the top of the eighth, putting the first two men on base.  Fortunately, for the Colonels, junior reliever Michael Wisecarver coaxed a double-play ball from Hector Mejias and induced a groundout to second from Thomas Brown to end the threat.

However, Grambling refused to go quietly as the Tigers threatened again in the ninth.  After Donnie White came on in relief of Wissecarver and recorded the first out of the inning with a harmless fly ball from the leadoff man, the Tigers strung together three consecutive singles to load the bases with one out.  But, White induced a ground ball to second and the Nicholls defense turned it's second double play of the ballgame.  The 4-6-3 twin killing ended the threat and the game to give Nicholls it's first win of the season and White his first career save.

The victory was the first for the Colonels under first-year head coach Seth Thibodeaux, who won his collegiate head coaching debut.

The Colonels will return to action on Saturday when they take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at 6 p.m. in Ruston.  Nicholls will conclude the weekend on Sunday by taking on Southern Illinois with a Noon first pitch against the Salukis.