Final Stats THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team won its series against the University of Central Arkansas, but dropped the final game 4-3 on Sunday afternoon, moving into a tie for first place in the conference standings.
 
The Colonels made a valiant comeback in the final two frames, but ultimately fell short against the strong pitching of the Bears.
 
Nicholls got on the board first in unconventional fashion. Leo Vargas was hit by a pitch and came home on a double down the left field line by Keith Cormier. The umpires ruled the hit a ground rule double after it was stuck along the outfield wall, and sent Vargas back to third. In the subsequent at bat, Vargas, determined to score, sprinted down the line as Connor Gilmore delivered a pitch, sliding under the catcher's tag to steal home.
 
Central Arkansas tied the game in the third after Chris Townsend singled up the middle, scoring Doug Votolato.
 
Things fell apart for the Colonels in the fourth. Nate Ferrell led off with a walk before Joey Pinney hit a routine grounder to Zach Thiac, who sailed the throw deep into right field, allowing Ferrell to take third and Pinney to advance to second. A groundout to short from Scott Zimmerle brought Ferrell home and advanced Pinney to third. Charles Deckard was then hit by a pitch, before a Matt Anderson single sent both Pinney and Deckard in.
 
In the eighth inning, Vargas took advantage of two consecutive errors by Townsend at second base to come in for his second score of the game.
 
Down by two, the Colonels looked to mount a comeback in the final frame. With two outs, pinch hitter Seth Stevens slammed a double to the right field wall. Pinch hitter Justin Smith and Lyons walked to load the bases. Vargas was hit by a pitch, bringing Stevens home and pulling the Colonels within one. In the following at bat, Cormier blasted a shot into right center, but outfielder Carson Dowdle made the catch in a dead sprint, ending the game.
 
Brandon Jackson led the Colonels from the mound, giving up one run through five innings. Zach Thiac (2-2) took the loss, throwing 2/3 innings surrendering three unearned runs on one hit with a strikeout and a walk. Relievers Ryan Deemes and Marc Frazier combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings while fanning four and walking one.
 
Connor Gilmore (3-1) earned the win for the Bears, tossing eight innings while giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with six strikeouts. Connor McClain received his second save of the season, throwing the final frame and surrendering one run with two walks.
 
Vargas contributed to all three scores for Nicholls, going 2-or-3 with an RBI and two runs. Stevens was 1-for-1 with a double and a score.
 
Votolato, Pinney and Deckard each had a hit and a run for Central Arkansas.
 
The Colonels will travel to San Antonio, Texas to face Incarnate Word in a three-game series beginning Thursday at 6:30 p.m. All three games will air on KTIB 640 AM.