Final Stats THIBODAUX, La. – In its last non-conference home game of the season, the Nicholls State University baseball team almost suffered another one-run defeat, but instead, a two-run home run from Keith Cormier set up a game-winning walk-off single by Mike Barba to give the Colonels a 4-3 victory over the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns Tuesday night in Thibodaux.

With two outs and the game tied at 3-3, Seth Stevens was hit by a pitch and was followed by an infield single by David Zorn to put two on. After a pitching change, Barba wasted little time and on the first pitch scorched a single scoring Cole Wilson for the game-winner. For Barba, it was his second walk-off win of the season after accomplishing the feat earlier this year in a 3-2 home win over Sacred Heart.

With just five hits to their credit, Cormier's long ball began a string of four hits for the team as Nicholls (18-20) and ULL (24-12) ended the game tied with nine each. The player that started the Nicholls scoring was Leo Vargas who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored, followed by Barba who went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Cormier made his one hit count with the shot over the fence, scoring once going 1-for-4.

Grant Borne was itching for that win over the Cajuns after doing so well against them the first time, and although he didn't get the win still pitched a gem going six innings giving up two runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Marc Picciola (1-2) came on in a tough spot and pitched the final 1.2 innings allowing one hit in the win.

Although the Colonels couldn't keep the board clean with no errors, they were not done in by the two they had on the night, as the defense produced multiple plays that kept the game close as the hurlers kept the Cajuns scoreless when it counted.

ULL's Kody Smith started the game and went into the fifth before getting relieved after striking out six Colonels on the night, as his replacement in Cord Cockrell (3-2) was cruising until Nicholls tied it in the bottom of the eighth, taking the loss even though Matt Hicks gave up the winning run on the first pitch he threw.

After back-to-back singles to open the third, Borne ran into trouble after a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. An infield single scored one run, with a 1-3-6 pickoff getting the first out with a runner just at third. A big strikeout put two outs on the board, but a single to right scored the second run of the inning for the Cajuns before a grounder ended the frame.

Louisiana-Lafayette loaded the bases in the top of the fifth after a walk, error and hit batter put three on with one out. Fortunately, a shallow fly ball to center kept the runners at bay for the second out, with a Jackson redeeming himself with a great stab to get the final out of the inning to keep the Cajuns off of the board.

Philip Lyons was the second consecutive leadoff hitter to get on base in the bottom half of the fifth, advancing to second on a wild pitch. Following a pop up and strikeout, Chris Miller was walked to put two on for the first time with Barba getting an infield single to load the bases. With a 2-2 count, Vargas garnered his second consecutive hit to drive in Lyons to pull Nicholls within one run. Jackson went to a full count and fouled off six pitches before striking out looking to end the inning.

Zach Thiac came on in the seventh and pitched the next 1.1 innings, eventually getting replaced after two singles with one out put runners at the corners. Picciola inherited a tough situation and got the second out on a sacrifice fly as ULL went up 3-1, with Barba ending the inning on a diving catch in center.

With one out and down to its last outs, Vargas continued his solid night legging out a double to center field. It looked like the shortstop would get stranded at second after a fly ball out, but Cormier netted the equalizer with his bomb to right field tying the game at three.

A wild ninth kept the Cajuns off the board, as after a single with one out as batters interference call was made on a stolen base attempt nullifying the advance and putting two outs on the board. The inning again ended with a standout diving catch by Barba in center.

Nicholls will return to action this weekend, hosting the McNeese State Cowboys in a three-game Southland Conference series beginning Friday night.