Final Stats BEAUMONT, Texas – After getting spotted three runs in the very first inning, the Nicholls State University baseball team saw its offense stall and pitching staff give up 11 hits on the night in a 5-4 loss in game two of the series to the Lamar Cardinals Friday night in Beaumont.

Earning three runs on four hits, and chasing Lamar's (35-18, 14-12 SLC) starter in the very first inning, the Colonels (26-28, 9-17) looked poised to roll to an early series win over the Cardinals at Vincent-Beck Stadium. Instead, Lamar scored four unanswered runs in the second and third innings and put Nicholls on its heels, as the team tied the game at four but allowed another run in the sixth and was never able to recover taking the loss.

As the steadiest pitcher in the rotation all season, Nicholls starter Kory Delange (6-4) struggled allowing all five Cardinal runs on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts in the loss. Kelby Langston and Jordan McCoy came on in relief to get out of some dangerous situations in their combined 2.1 innings of work, but allowed 11 total hits to the opposition on the night.

Lamar's David Carver exited the game with just one out on the board in the first, but was helped out by his relief who combined to give up just one run on four hits for the rest of the game with two walks and six strikeouts. Hunter Perry (1-0) earned his first win of the season, while Jerin Spikes (1) earned the save after holding the team scoreless in the final 1.2 innings.

Two Colonels had two multi-hit nights to lead the team at the plate, as both Cody Dufrene and Seth Stevens went 2-for-4 with Stevens driving in a run on the night. Keith Cormier had two RBI coming on his bases-clearing double in the first, scoring twice.

Apparently the momentum from the previous night's game powered the Colonels into the opening frame on Friday, beginning with a walk to Matt Richard to open the game. After stealing second a single by Leo Vargas through the right side put runners at the corners with no outs. Cormier cleared the bags by smoking a triple to right center scoring both to give Nicholls a 2-0 advantage. A single to first by Stevens scored Cormier to make it 3-0. A bloop single from Tyler Duplantis that fell fair down the right field line put two on, as a sacrifice bunt by Philip Lyons advanced the two to second and third. After a pitching change for Lamar, a grounder to third was the second out, with a swinging strikeout ending the inning.

Lamar loaded the bases in the bottom of the second inning after a walk, single and hit batter gave the Cardinals some life after falling behind early. After a strikeout, a single up the middle scored one to make it 3-1, with a walk bringing in another to make it 3-2. A chopper back to Delange forced out the runner at home for the second out, however another single through the right side tied the game at three, but an outfield assist by Mike Barba caught another run from crossing the plate to end the inning.

With one out already in the inning, Lamar's Brad Picha homered to left field in the bottom of the third to give the Cardinals their first lead of the day going up 4-3.

A walk to Cormier and single by Stevens put two on for Nicholls for the second consecutive inning. After coming up empty in the previous inning, a sacrifice bunt by Duplantis moved the two to second and third. An unassisted grounder by Lyons scored Cormier to tie the game at four for the only run of the inning.

Lamar got three hits in the bottom of the sixth, scoring one run to go up 5-4, which could have been worse if not for Barba's second outfield assist of the night from right.

The finale of the series at Vincent-Beck Stadium is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch Saturday afternoon in Beaumont.