Final Stats 1 | Final Stats 2 NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team split their doubleheader against Northwestern State on Saturday, falling 1-0 on a walk-off single in the first outing, before winning the second 4-2 in 12 innings.

There may not be two more evenly matched Southland Conference baseball teams than the Colonels (16-18, 8-4 SLC) and Demons (18-13, 8-4 SLC).  Each team scored nine runs over 31 innings in their three-game weekend series. Nicholls chipped in 21 hits on the weekend while Northwestern State tallied 23. Both sides seemed to trade runs throughout the series, responding each time one team took a lead. When one team scored the other would as well, and when one team made an outstanding defensive play to prevent runs from scoring, the other would make an equally spectacular play to stave off runs.
 
The first contest of the day was a pitching duel, coupled with a strong defensive showing by both teams. The Colonels and Demons were both scoreless heading into the ninth inning and had combined for only four hits in the ballgame.
 
Nicholls looked to be making a move in the top of the final frame and were in position to take the lead when Seth Stevens pinch hit for Justin Holt and was walked. Darius Knight pinch ran for Stevens and advanced to second on a Philip Lyons single to right center. But with one out, Keith Cormier's grounder to second was fielded and flipped to the shortstop, who stepped on second and fired to first, completing the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Northwestern State was aided by a C.J. Webster walk to lead off the inning. Nick Heath pinch ran for Webster and advanced to second on an Edwin Gomez sac bunt before Joel Atkinson grounded out, sending Heath to third base. With two outs and the game on the line Caleb Dugas stepped to the plate, having won the previous game on a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10^th inning. Dugas was the hero again, singling to left center and sending Heath home as the Demons stormed the field for the second straight game.
 
Grant Borne (4-2) took the mound for the Colonels, throwing the entire game with three hits, two walks and a strikeout.
 
Josh Oller (2-0) was dominant from the bump for Northwestern State, pitching a complete game with just one walk while fanning five.
 
Nicholls was led offensively by Christian Correa, Tyler Duplantis and Lyons, who each contributed a hit.
 
Webster led the Demons at the plate, going 2-for-2 in the game, while Caleb Dugas was 1-for-2 with an RBI.
 
The second matchup of the day was much like the first, with sparse scoring and a slew of remarkable defensive plays.
 
The Colonels etched their mark on the board first when Cormier singled through the right side, Justin Smith notched a single to center, and Duplantis reached on an error that scored Cormier in the fourth inning. David Zorn grounded out to second base, driving Smith in, and putting the Colonels up two.
 
Northwestern State matched Nicholls step for step as they had done all weekend, scoring two runs in the bottom of the frame. Atkinson walked, before advancing to third on a wild pick off attempt that flew by Zorn and into deep right field along the Demon bullpen. Cort Brinson was hit by a pitch before Chase Daughdrill grounded out to second to advance Brinson and score Atkinson. Brinson came home on a single from Bret Underwood to even the score.
 
Both teams would hold each other in check, sending the game to extra innings.
 
In the top of the 12^th, Correa would open the inning being hit by a pitch and advance to second on a Lyons single to shortstop. Vargas then singled to right field to load the bases. Cormier, who leads the team in RBIs with 25, came up huge when the Colonels needed it most, singling to center field driving in Correa and Lyons for what proved to be the game-winning runs.
 
Righty Brandon Jackson tossed eight innings for the Colonels, allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Marc Picciola (2-3) earned the win, throwing the final two innings without surrendering a run or a hit.
 
Andrew Adams (1-1) took the loss for Northwestern State, giving up two runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings while fanning four batters.
 
Cormier had a rough start to the series, going 0-for-8 before recovering in the final game to lead Nicholls at the plate hitting 4-for-6 with a run and two RBIs. Lyons and Smith each had two hits and a run scored, while Correa had a 1-for-1 game and the go-ahead run.
 
Nathan Lyons led the Demons at the plate, going 2-for-4.
 
The Colonels will head home to for a non-conference matchup against South Alabama on Wednesday at 6 p.m. before taking on conference opponent Central Arkansas in a three-game weekend series in Thibodaux beginning Friday at 6 p.m.