Final Stats THIBODAUX, La – The Nicholls State University baseball team recorded double digit hits for the third time in the last five games and senior Taylor Byrd pitched seven sound innings as the Colonels opened Southland Conference play with a 4-2 victory over Houston Baptist Friday night at Ray E. Didier Field.

Nicholls (9-9) and HBU (8-6) will continue the series on Saturday with a 3 p.m. doubleheader. With inclement weather in the forecast, the series was altered with hopes of playing the two remaining games.

Byrd improved to 3-1 on the year, allowing two runs on 10 hits while striking out six. The Huskies had half of their hits against the left-hander in the third inning, scoring two runs to take the lead.

Nicholls finished with 11 hits, getting two each from Duplantis, Marc Frazier and David Zorn. Zorn gave the Colonels an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on RBI single to left, scoring Keith Cormier who led off the inning with base hit.

HBU tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Thomas Clay, and then took a 2-1 lead on a RBI single off the bat of C.J. Jarvis, who was 3-for-4 on the day. But Byrd limited the damage in the third, getting Zach Nehrir to ground out to leave the bases loaded.

In the bottom half, Duplantis battled with HBU starter Taylor Wright (2-2) in an eight-pitch at-bat which ended with a game-tying triple to left center, scoring Leo Vargas from second. Wright also pitched seven innings, surrendering three runs on 10 hits.

HBU threatened in the fourth with a runner on third and two outs, but Darius Knight made a diving catch in shallow center to rob Josh Martinez of a hit. The Colonel defense was stellar all night, finishing with no errors for the third time this season.

Wright's last charged run came in the fifth as Nicholls tagged him for three hits with two down. Vargas ripped a double down the left field line, and then came around to score on a high chopper to short by Duplantis.

In the eight, John Satriano retired HBU in order before pinch-hitter Justin Smith pushed the Colonels' lead to 4-2 with a double to right center.

Closer Marc Picciola hit the first batter in the top of the ninth, but catcher Christian Correa caught pinch-runner David Bloodworth too far off first base, which led to a run down for the second out. Picciola went on to record his third save after Martinez hit a soft liner to Vargas at short.

Along with Jarvis, HBU was led at the plate by Mike Chamberlain and Jordan McCoy with two hits each.