THIBODAUX, La. – After two tough outings against Southeastern Louisiana's conference-leading offense on Friday and Saturday, the Nicholls State University baseball team turned the tables on Sunday, taking a 4-0 victory over the Lions in the series-finale at Ray E. Didier Field.
 
The Colonels (14-12-1, 5-7 SLC) got off to a rocky start as leadoff batter Jacob Seward reached on an error and Jacob Williams was subsequently hit by a pitch in the first two at bats for SLU (22-8, 9-2 SLC). Nicholls settled in, turning a double play before Justin Sinibaldi earned a strikeout to escape the inning unscathed.
 
In the bottom of the frame, Justin Holt notched a single to center field, stole second and came home on a Kyle Reese single to right center.
 
Southeastern La. threatened again in the top of the second when Webb Bobo singled to shortstop with only one out. In the next at bat, Brett Hoffman singled to left center. Bobo attempted to take an extra base on Hoffman's hit, sprinting for third, but was gunned down by leftfielder Darius Knight. Alertly, the third baseman, Reese, flipped the ball to Tanner Vandevere on second as Hoffman tried to advance on Knight's throw and the squad completed the unconventional 7-5-4 double play to end the inning.
 
Sinibaldi was dominant in the third, striking out the first two batters he faced. The next batter, Seward, singled through the middle, but Sinibaldi picked him off at first to end the frame.
 
The Colonels added a pair of runs in the seventh. Joey Morales led off and reached first on a wild pitch. Reese blasted a monster double down the leftfield line to send Morales home. Alex Tucker pinch-hit and registered a single to shortstop, advancing Reese to third, before Vandevere singled to shallow right field, scoring Reese and giving Nicholls a 3-1 advantage.
 
The Dirty Red took advantage of a pair of Lion miscues in the eighth to add a pair of insurance runs. Morales reached on an error before stealing second. On the next at bat, Holt singled and advanced on a throwing error that sent Morales home.
 
Southeastern La. provided a scare in the ninth when Kevin Carr singled to right field and Ryan Byers walked, but Bobo hit into a fielder's choice in the subsequent at bat and Morales tagged the bag at second, pumping his first in and jumping back-to-back with Vandevere in celebration.
 
In a stunning role-reversal, Nicholls registered 11 hits, compared to just five for the top-ranked offensive team in the league.
 
Sinibaldi (5-1) was dominant on the mound for the Colonels, tossing a complete game shutout, allowing only five hits and striking out six Lions.
 
Kyle Cedotal (3-2) took the loss, surrendering two runs on seven hits while fanning six Nicholls batters through 6 2/3 innings of work. In relief, Mac Sceroler gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits with a strikeout.
 
Holt led the Colonels offensively with a 4-for-4 outing and a run scored. Reese finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.
 
Five Southeastern La. batters registered a hit on the afternoon, but none turned in a multi-hit outing.
 
Following Sunday's ballgame, Nicholls took on an even more important opponent as the team shaved their heads in support of the Vs. Cancer Foundation, which is dedicated to saving kids' lives by empowering athletes and communities to fund lifesaving childhood cancer efforts.
 
The squad had their heads shaved by Nadine Bernardi Hebert Sarah Champagne Guillot of Salon Aleurier, located at 604 North Canal Boulevard in Thibodaux.
 
You can join the fight too! Visit the Nicholls Baseball Vs. Cancer page at team.vs-cancer.org/Colonels to make a donation. To learn more visit VS-CANCER.ORG or follow the organization on twitter @VS_CANCER.
 
The Colonels will host Alcorn State at 6 p.m. on Tuesday before a three-game home stand against Incarnate Word, with first pitch slated for 6 p.m. on Thursday. All four games will be broadcast live on KTIB 640 AM.
 
Visit geauxcolonels.com for live stats, video and the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball.