Final Stats MONROE, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team clawed their way from a 5-0 deficit to take the lead over ULM, but came up short as the Warhawks stormed back for a 9-6 victory in Monroe on Wednesday night.
 
It was a rocky start for the Colonels (15-16, 7-2 SLC), giving up four earned runs in the first inning. Justin Stawychny opened the offensive barrage from the Warhawks (12-18) with a single through the left side, driving in Keelin Rasch, before Kodie Tidwell blasted a double down the right field line, scoring two. Ross Moore drove in the final run of the inning with a single up the middle that sent Tidwell home.
 
In the second, ULM took advantage of a pair of Nicholls miscues, adding to their lead. Josh Faciane reached third on a wild pitch before taking home after Christian Correa's put out attempt sailed into left field.
 
Nicholls posted no hits through the first four innings, but decided to join the party in the fifth, scoring their first run of the night on a ground out from Correa that brought Charles Morton in.
 
In the sixth, Nicholls took advantage of four walks to cut the deficit to one. Keith Cormier drove a double over the outstretched hand of Jacob Stockton in right field to score Leo Vargas and Philip Lyons. Cormier would come home on a wild pitch before the Warhawks could end the inning.
 
The Colonels weren't done, adding a run in the seventh after pitcher Josh Leone hurled an errant throw into right field, allowing Darius Knight to score. Cormier then notched his second double of the night, a hard shot down the left field line, scoring Lyons and giving Nicholls its first lead of the night.
 
ULM fought back in the bottom of the seventh, when Rasch reached on a fielder's choice and Stockton took home. The Warhawks then reclaimed the lead, notching two runs on a double from Dalton Herrington that brought Herrera and Rasch in.
 
In the eighth frame, ULM would add one final run on a single from Garrett Walters that allowed Moore to score. On the play, Moore sprinted down the third base line and lowered his shoulder like a running back to run over Alex Tucker, dislodging the ball.
 
Justin Sinibaldi took to the mound for his first start of the season, tossing two innings in which he gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits with two strikeouts. John Satriano (1-1) took the loss for the Colonels, throwing 2/3 innings with three earned runs.
 
For the Warhawks, Tyler Bray (3-3) earned the win, throwing the final three innings in which he only allowed one hit and no runs with four strikeouts.
 
Cormier was 2-for-5 with a run and three RBIs to lead the Colonels at the plate. Lyons went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, and Charles Morton was 1-for-3, scoring once.
 
Stockton led ULM offensively going 3-for-4 with a run, while Herrington was 2-for-4, scoring once, and driving in two.
 
The Colonels travel to Natchitoches for a three game series against Northwestern beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. The game boasts a showdown between the top two teams in the Southland Conference and will be broadcast on KNSU 91.5 FM.