THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University baseball team opened their 2011 home slate on Wednesday night in dramatic fashion, winning 3-2 at Ray E. Didier Field against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette on a walk off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth by junior Mace Krol.

With the game knotted at 2-2 in the final inning, Nicholls senior Beau Faulk led off the frame with his second hit of the night, a single up the middle. Mike Barba came in to pinch run and was moved to second on an attempted sacrifice bunt. Following a fielder's choice which put Barba 90-feet away, Krol delivered a fly ball deep enough to left field, allowing the winning run to cross the plate for the walk off victory.

After giving up four runs in Tuesday's game at ULL, the Colonel bullpen was flawless on the night, allowing no hits in five innings off work. Junior Donnie White picked up the decision, throwing the final two innings and striking out two.

Freshman Dalton Torres got Nicholls (2-3) off to a good start, allowing only two runs on three hits in four innings. Along with White, the rest of the relievers included senior Ryan Norton, junior Michael Baxter, and sophomore Corey Poche.

Jordan Nicholson got the start for ULL (2-3), holding the Colonels to two unearned runs on five hits in seven innings of work, while finishing the night with seven strikeouts. Randall Bulliard was tagged with the loss, surrendering the one run on one hit.

For the game, the Ragin' Cajuns struck first, taking advantage of some early nerves from Torres who was making his first career start. A hit-by-pitch put the first ULL runner on, and three more walks would make the score 1-0.

Nicholls had some help in the third, plating the first run on an interference call on the third baseman which allowed Philip Lyons to score. Junior Jeremy Hill would then give the Colonels the lead with a sacrifice fly. However, ULL would answer right back in their next at-bat, tying the game on an RBI double from Matt Goulas.

The pitching duel stepped up a notch over the next few innings as neither team could break the tie. ULL threatened in the ninth by putting a runner on third with two outs, but White would force a pop up to get out of the inning before Krol came through for the winning at-bat, giving Nicholls the walk off victory.

Nicholls returns to action this weekend with a three-game home set against Saint Peter's College (N.J.), beginning on Friday at 7 p.m.

Coach Thibodeaux Postgame




Mace Krol Postgame