Final Stats STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Nicholls State University baseball team grabbed an early lead on Friday, but UMass Lowell used a four-run fourth and a seven-run ninth to cruise to an 11-2 victory at Dudy Noble Field.
 
The Colonels (4-2) scored a first-inning run after Joey Morales singled, stole second, advanced to third on a balk, and came home on a Kyle Reese groundout.
 
The River Hawks (1-0) tied the game in the fourth inning, before using a three-run home run to secure a 4-1 advantage.
 
Nicholls chipped away at the lead in the eighth, when Ethan Valdez crushed a double, and came home on a Reese single to right field.
 
UMass Lowell immediately punched back with a seven-run ninth and closed out the game.
 
Reese finished 2-for-4 and had both Colonel RBIs. Morales hit 1-for-4 and Valdez went 1-for-3, while both players scored a run.
 
S. Passatempo paced the River Hawks with a 2-for-4 day, four RBIs and two runs scored.
 
Justin Sinibaldi (1-1) took the loss, surrendering four runs on four hits with six strikeouts through six innings on the hill. Robbie Petty gave up one run on two hits while fanning two batters through two innings. Zach Hansen and Adam Tarver combined to allow six runs (two earned) on five hits with a strikeout through 1/3 innings. Daniel Goff pitched the final 2/3 innings without allowing a hit.
 
A. Ryan (1-0) picked up the win, allowing one run on six hits, while fanning three batters through seven innings of work.
 
The Colonels will battle Mississippi State at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Nicholls will face UMass Lowell at noon on Sunday, followed immediately by a game against the Bulldogs at 3:30 p.m. to close out the weekend.
 
PROBABLE STARTING ROTATION:
 
NICHOLLS (Sat.) - RHP Cole Stapler (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 6 SO, 6.0 IP)
NICHOLLS (Sun. Game 1) - RHP Jake Smith (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 8 SO, 6.0 IP)
NICHOLLS (Sun. Game 2) - LHP Alex Ernestine (1-0, 5.40 ERA, 6 SO, 5.0 IP)
 
MISSISSIPPI STATE (Sat.) - LHP Daniel Brown (0-0, 5.79, 7 SO, 4.2 IP)
MISSISSIPPI STATE (Sun.) - RHP Zac Houston (0-0, 2.45, 3 SO, 3.2 IP)
 
UMASS LOWELL - None Announced
 
Following this weekend's action, Nicholls will host No. 5 LSU at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Ray E. Didier Field.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball, visit geauxcolonels.com.