THIBODAUX, La. – Closer Stuart Holmes picked up his 14^th save of the year on Friday as the Nicholls State University baseball team gutted out a 2-1 victory over Houston Baptist in a Southland Conference pitching duel on Friday night at Ray E. Didier Field.
 
With the save, Holmes moved into a tie for the school record for most saves in a single season. Alex Velasquez picked up 14 saves for the squad in 2000 and finished his career with 22.
 
The Colonels (26-16-1, 12-10 SLC) jumped on top with an early run in the first inning. Justin Holt led off with a single to left field, and took two bases on a hit-and-run single from Darius Knight. A few pitches later, Holt scored on a Kyle Reese sacrifice fly to left.
 
The Huskies (22-21, 12-10 SLC) responded in the second inning, taking advantage of two Nicholls errors to tie the ballgame. Greg Espinosa was hit by a pitch and took second on a throwing error. Brandon Morones subsequently singled to second base, sending Espinosa to third. The Colonels attempted to catch Espinosa rounding third, but an errant throw allowed him to come home.
 
Houston Baptist threatened in the fifth when Andrew Alvarez walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. The subsequent batter flied out to right, sending Louie Payetta to the plate. Payetta launched a blooper towards the freshly painted Nicholls logo in center field and looked to have an RBI base hit, but Holt sprinted in, making an acrobatic sliding catch to end the frame.
 
The Colonels punched back in the sixth, scoring a run to take a 2-1 advantage. Reese crushed a double to the wall in leftfield, advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home when an errant throw from the Huskies' catcher sailed into left field.
 
Houston Baptist made things interesting in the eighth. With two outs and runners at the corners, the Huskies attempted a double steal. Alex Tucker fired the ball to Joey Morales behind the pitcher's mound and Morales immediately returned a throw home. Tucker received the ball and tagged a diving Zach Nehrir out at the plate, ending the inning.
 
Ryan Deemes (5-2) picked up the win, allowing just one unearned run on four hits with three strikeouts through seven innings on the mound. In relief, Robbie petty tossed one scoreless inning, allowing just one hit and fanning one batter. Holmes tossed the final hitless frame, recording a strikeout.
 
Taylor Wright (6-6) took the loss, allowing two runs on seven hits and fanning four batters in six innings on the hill.
 
Reese paced Nicholls offensively with a 1-for-2 outing, an RBI and a run scored. Knight finished 2-for-4. Four other Colonel batters registered a hit in the win.
 
The Huskies were held to just five hits on the night, with no player turning in a multi-hit outing.
 
Game two is slated for 6 p.m. on Saturday, with the series-finale set for 1 p.m. on Sunday. Both matchups will be broadcast live on KTIB 640 AM.
 
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