THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team never trailed on Good Friday, grabbing an early lead over Incarnate Word and cruising to a 6-1 victory behind a productive offensive night and timely plays.
 
The Colonels (17-12-1, 7-7 SLC) took advantage of an early miscue by the Cardinals (11-18, 2-9 SLC) to capture a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Justin Holt and Darius Knight opened the frame with back-to-back bunt singles. In the next at bat Kyle Reese hit into a double play, but Holt was able to advance to third. Tanner Vandevere subsequently reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, allowing Holt to come home.
 
Nicholls turned three hits into an additional run in the second. Alex Tucker led off with a single up the middle, advanced to second on a David Zorn single to left field and scored on a Holt single up the middle.
 
Incarnate Word answered in the third, cutting the Colonel advantage in half. The first two Cardinal batters were walked before a single loaded the bases. Nicholls relieved some of the pressure by turning an unconventional 1-2-3 double play, but in the next at bat Matt Morris reached on an error, sending Bryce Shepherd home.
 
The Colonels responded with a pair of runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. Reese doubled down the leftfield line and came home after Vandevere notched a nearly identical double. Alex Shermer subsequently registered a bloop single to left center, scoring Vandevere.
 
Nicholls added an insurance run in the seventh when Vandevere registered a monster stand-up triple to right center. In the next at bat, Shermer sent Vandevere home with a double to left center.
 
The Colonels chipped in a final run in the eighth, taking advantage of an error by Incarnate Word to send Joey Morales in on a Holt single.
 
Grant Borne (2-4) earned the win, allowing one unearned run on three hits with six strikeouts. In relief, Jason McDonald and Robbie Petty combined to fan six batters and give up just one hit over three innings of work.
 
Garret Cooper (4-3) took the loss, surrendering five runs (four earned) through 6 2/3 innings on the hill, with four strikeouts.
 
Holt paced Nicholls offensively with a 3-for-5 night, two RBIs and a run scored. Vandevere went 2-for-4, scoring twice and adding an RBI. Shermer hit 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
 
Four batters registered a hit for the Cardinals, but none turned in a multi-hit outing. Shepherd scored the lone run for Incarnate Word.
 
The Colonels will go for their fifth-straight win in the series-finale, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. on Saturday. The matchup will be broadcast live on KTIB 640 AM.
 
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