LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team held a brief first-inning lead on a wet night in Lake Charles, but McNeese State quickly responded, punching the accelerator and cruising to a decisive 9-1 victory in the series-opener. The Dirty Red were their own worst enemy in the contest, giving up eight walks, pegging two batters and committing two errors.
 
The Colonels (23-15-1, 10-9 SLC) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Kyle Reese singled to left field and came home on a Seth Stevens double.
 
The Cowboys (23-19, 13-9 SLC) immediately answered in the bottom of the frame with a game-tying run. Joe Provenzano walked, stole second and came home on a poorly played single hit by Billy Sommers to second base.
 
McNeese took a stranglehold on the game in the second, turning two singles, two doubles and a sacrifice bunt into three runs for a 4-1 advantage.
 
Nicholls handed the Cowboys an additional run in the fourth. Lewis Guilbeau walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second after the subsequent batter was hit by a pitch. A Provenzano single loaded the bases before Conner Loyd walked, forcing in a Guilbeau.
 
McNeese piled on in the fifth, scoring a run after James Cantu was hit by a pitch, advanced to second after a walk and came home on a Cameron Toole single up the middle.
 
The Cowboys put the icing on the cake with three more runs in the seventh. McNeese notched two singles before Lucas Quary reached on an error to load the bases. A Toole double brought all three batters home.
 
Ryan Deemes (4-2) took the loss, surrendering five runs on seven hits with four walks through 3 2/3 innings on the hill.
 
Kaleb Fontenot (6-3) earned the win, allowing only one run on eight hits with seven strikeouts through eight dominant innings on the mound.
 
Stevens paced the Colonels offensively with a 1-for-4 outing and an RBI double. Reese finished 1-for-4 with a run. Justin Holt and Darius Knight went 2-for-4 at the plate, while Justin Smith and Joey Morales each finished 1-for-3 for Nicholls.
 
Eight different Cowboys registered a hit on the night, led by Toole's outstanding performance. Toole was responsible for six of McNeese's nine runs, batting 3-for-4 with two doubles, five RBIs and a run scored.
 
The best news for the Colonels is that they have two more opportunities to bounce back with game two scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday and the series finale set for 1 p.m. on Sunday. Both matchups will be broadcast live on KTIB 640 AM.
 
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