MONROE, La. – After a grueling defensive struggle through nine innings on Wednesday afternoon, the Nicholls State University baseball team defeated ULM, 3-2 in the 10^th inning, behind the fleet feet of Byron Cobb and a little luck.
 
In the extra frame, pinch hitter Seth Stevens absolutely crushed the first pitch that he saw, doubling to deep right center. Stevens advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Alex Tucker, before Cobb entered the game as a pinch runner for Stevens. In the next at back David Zorn pushed a grounder to first, reaching on a fielder's choice. On the play, Cobb strayed from third base, not sure whether he should make a play for home, and was caught in a pickle. It looked as though Cobb would be easily tagged out, but the speedy former Colonel football player made a quick juke move in an attempt to slide by catcher Garrett Walters. Cobb was initially ruled out on the play, but after an appeal from Head Coach Seth Thibodeaux and a conference of the four umpires, the call was overturned and Cobb was ruled safe.
 
A video replay clearly showed that Walters tagged Cobb with his glove hand, while still holding the ball in his off hand.
 
The ballgame opened as a defensive struggle with three scoreless innings before the Warhawks (16-15) opened things up in the fourth. Kodie Tidwell walked, advanced to second on a ground out, took third on a single to right field and came home on a Spencer Hemphill single up the middle.
 
The Colonels (19-13-1) responded with two of runs in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead. Darius Knight and Kyle Reese notched consecutive singles before the pair advanced on a Tanner Vandevere ground out. Alex Shermer subsequently singled to center, scoring both Knight and Reese.
 
ULM punched back in the seventh, taking advantage of a Nicholls error to score an unearned run and tie the game.
 
The Warhawks threatened in the ninth with two base runners, but reliever Stuart Holmes and the Colonel defense were able to retire the side and send the game to extra innings.
 
It was Cobb's unconventional run in the 10^th that proved to be the game-winner as Alex Ernestine and the Nicholls defense held ULM scoreless through the final frame to seal the victory.
 
Marc Frazier tossed the first six innings, allowing just one run on six hits with two strikeouts. In relief, Jason McDonald allowed one unearned run on one hit and fanned one batter, while Robbie Petty threw a scoreless frame with a strikeout. Holmes (2-0) earned the win, giving up just one hit and fanning one batter in the ninth inning. Ernestine registered his first save of the year, holding the Warhawks scoreless through the final inning.
Cole Hendrix tossed the first 5 2/3 innings for ULM, allowing two runs on four hits. Brandon Bell (3-5) took the loss, surrendering one run on one hit with a strikeout through 4 1/3 innings on the mound.
 
Reese led the Colonels offensively, batting 2-for-4 with a run scored. Shermer was 1-for-3 and registered two RBIs in the victory.
 
Keelin Rasch paced the Warhawks with a 2-for-5 day, while Hemphill and Dalton Todd each contributed an RBI in the loss.
 
The Colonels will have just one day to catch their breath before a three-game conference series against Central Arkansas, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. in Conway. First pitch for game two of the series is slated for 4 p.m. on Saturday, with the series-finale set for 1 p.m. on Sunday. Friday's matchup will be broadcast live on KNSU 91.5 FM, while games two and three will air on KTIB 640 AM.
 
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