PENSACOLA, Fla. – Marc Frazier tossed six innings and allowed just one run with four strikeouts on his birthday to help lead the Nicholls State University baseball team past a gritty North Florida squad on the first day of the Cox Diamond Invitational in Pensacola, Fla.
 
The Colonels (4-1) scored first, taking a 1-0 lead over the Ospreys (2-3) in the fourth inning. Seth Stevens led off with a double to left center and advanced to third when Kyle Reese singled through the right side. On the next play Stevens was thrown out at home after Tanner Vandevere attempted to bunt him in for the score. Vandevere reached on a fielder's choice. After an Alex Shermer walk, Gavin Wehby notched a sacrifice fly that sent Reese home.
 
In the next frame Justin Holt led off with a walk and advanced on a bunt single by Darius Knight. Christian Correa flied out to right, moving both runners forward. Stevens hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Holt to score and putting Nicholls up 2-0.
 
North Florida answered in the bottom of the inning when Garrick Ferguson came home on a wild pitch.
 
In the sixth, Shermer walked, stole second and scored when Joey Morales singled up the middle.
 
The Colonels added a security run in the ninth after Correa singled up the middle to bring Holt home. The run would prove vital for Nicholls.
 
The Ospreys provided a scare in the bottom of the frame. Alex Bacon pinch hit for Nick Karmeris and led off with a single up the middle. On the subsequent at bat, Alex Merritt singled to right field, advancing Bacon to second. Ferguson flied out to right, but Bacon and Merritt advanced on a throwing error. Bacon came home when James Abbatinozzi ground out to first, and Merritt advanced to third. Patrick Ervin recorded a single through the left side, scoring Merritt and pulling North Florida within a run, but Ryan Roberson ground out to second on the following at bat, ending the game.
 
Frazier (1-1) earned the win, allowing just six hits and one earned run in the ballgame. Robbie Petty tossed two scoreless innings, fanning one batter and allowing just one hit. Stuart Holmes recorded his third save of the season, giving up one earned run in the final frame.
 
Tyler Moore (0-2) took the loss, surrendering two runs on four hits with four strikeouts.
 
Morales led the Colonels offensively with a 2-for-4 day and an RBI. Holt went 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
 
Ervin and Abbatinozzi each batted 2-for-4 and recorded an RBI in the loss.
 
Nicholls will take on Southern Miss at 7 p.m. on Saturday and Troy at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday before returning to Louisiana for a battle with Southern University at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in Baton Rouge. The remaining two games in the Cox Diamond Invitational will be broadcast live on KNSU 91.5 FM. Sunday's matchup with the Trojans will air on Cox Sports Television.
 
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