Final Stats THIBODAUX, La. – With the bases loaded and down to its final out in the bottom of the eighth, an errant throw by Sam Houston State allowed two of an eventual five total runners to cross the plate in the inning leading to a 7-3 Nicholls win Friday night in Thibodaux.

Nicholls (11-7, 3-1 SLC) trailed the Bearkats (9-8, 2-2 SLC) 3-2 with only six outs standing between the visitors and stealing the opening game of the series. A traditional pitcher's duel for most of the game allowed starter Seth Webster (3-2) to stay on and earn his first complete game victory of the season, giving up three runs, two earned, and scattering nine hits with six strikeouts.

Mike Barba and Michael LeGrange finished the night with three hits each for six of Nicholls' eight hits on the night, while Matt Richard and Austin Flores each accounted for the other two. 

The Colonels didn't get their first hit until the bottom of the third inning, as Richard laced a hard hit ball through the middle of the infield. Barba then singled to left field to give Nicholls two runners on base for the first time in the game. An error on the pitcher advanced the runners to second and third with only one out. Lyons hit into the fielder's choice groundout to drive in Richard putting Nicholls up 1-0.

Two errors by Nicholls in the top of the sixth allowed an unearned run to cross the plate to tie the game at 1-1, but Webster and the defense were able to get out of the inning without further damage.

A double down the left field line by Flores began the seventh inning for the Colonels, and was then moved to third by a sacrifice bunt by Evan Weibel. In the very next at bat Richard flew out to left center to drive in Flores giving Nicholls a 2-1 lead. A bunt single by LeGrange got another runner on base, but was left stranded on base to end the inning.

Back-to-back bunt singles by Sam to lead off the eighth put runners in scoring position for the Bearkats with only one out. A sacrifice fly brought in a SHSU run to tie the game at 2-2. A triple on the next at bat gave the Bearkats their first lead of the game 3-2.

In the eighth the Colonels had a bases loaded opportunity after a LeGrange single, Bergeron plunking and Flores walk. Called on to pinch hit Seal hit a routine grounder to the Sam third baseman, but the throw was too low and got past the first baseman to score two runs on the error. On the next at bat, Richard hit into what looked like a line drive to the second baseman, but it bounced off of the tip of his glove and into right field to score two more runs giving Nicholls a 6-3 lead. Barba then singled to drive in Richard to go up 7-3, but got caught trying to advance to second after the throw to home was cut off to end the inning.

First pitch for game two between the Colonels and Bearkats is set for 2 p.m. Saturday.