THIBODAUX, La. – Kyle Reese picked up right where he left off last season, turning in a 4-for-4 day with two runs and an RBI to help the Nicholls State University baseball team earn a 6-1 victory over Mississippi Valley State on opening day at Ray E. Didier Field.
 
Justin Sinibaldi tossed five strikeouts through five scoreless innings, before giving way to a stout trio of Daniel Goff, Zach Hansen and Robbie Petty.
 
The Colonels (1-0) grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first, after an Alex Shermer single coupled with a fielding error allowed Reese and Joey Morales to score. A Juan Givan sac fly brought Shermer home in the fourth, and a Shermer single allowed Reese to score in the sixth.
 
The Devils (0-1) erased the shutout in the seventh inning, after a Caleb Lindsey groundout sent Gabriel Waddell in.
 
In the eighth, consecutive triples from Morales and Reese scored the final two runs of the day.
 
Morales finished 2-for-4, with a pair of runs and an RBI. Shermer scored a run and added an RBI with a 2-for-3 outing. Givan contributed an RBI and Gavin Wehby scored a run for the Nicholls.
 
Sinibaldi (1-0) earned the win, allowing only three hits, while holding MVSU to a .176 average. In relief, Goff gave up two hits and a run, with one strikeout. Hansen pitched a scoreless frame, seeding one hit and fanning one batter. Petty closed out the game with a scoreless hitless inning and struck out one.
 
Cecil Hodges (0-1) took the loss, surrendering six runs, three earned, on nine hits through 7.1 innings on the hill.
 
The Colonels and Demons will face off in a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at noon, with the series finale set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
 
Nicholls announced rotation:
Game 2 (Saturday):    RHP Cole Stapler
Game 3 (Saturday):    RHP Jake Smith
Game 4 (Sunday):       LHP Alex Ernestine
 
The Devils have not announced a rotation.
 
Following this weekend's action, Nicholls will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for a battle with the University of Alabama at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24.