STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Nicholls State University baseball team fell to UMass Lowell, 9-6, and No. 17 Mississippi State, 8-0, on Sunday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field.
After a pair of River Hawk home runs, a ninth-inning comeback fell short for the Colonels (4-5) in game one. Mississippi State jumped out to an early lead of Nicholls in game two, and held the Colonels in check offensively, cruising to victory in the weekend finale.
GAME 1: Nicholls scored three runs and loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but the Colonels were unable to climb all the way back as the River Hawks escaped with the victory.
Nicholls scored a first-inning run, but UMass Lowell exploded in the third. The River Hawks took advantage of a passed ball to score one, before jumping out to a 6-1 lead after a grand slam and a solo home run.
A UMass Lowell throwing error in the fourth inning allowed the Colonels to score a pair, but the River Hawks answered with a run in the bottom of the frame.
UMass Lowell added a run in the sixth and another in the seventh, to take a 9-3 lead into the final inning.
With one out in the ninth,
Dylan Manichia singled to short, before
Trevor Flynn was hit by a pitch, placing runners on first and second. A
Juan Givan groundout advanced both runners, and brought pinch hitter
Kyle Knauth up to bat. Knauth crushed a double down the right field line, scoring two.
Quade Smith subsequently reached on an error, before
Ethan Valdez drew a walk. After a pitching change,
Joey Morales also walked, forcing in a run, but a fly out on the next at bat ended the game.
Knauth finished 1-for-1 with two RBIs. Manichia notched a team-high two hits, and
Kyle Reese paced the squad with two RBIs. Valdez, Morales,
Justin Ware, Flynn,
Alex Tucker and
Devin Morrill each scored a run.
S. Passatempo led the River Hawks with a 2-for-5 day, four RBIs and a run scored.
Jake Smith (1-1) took the loss, surrendering six runs on three hits, with four walks and four strikeouts through 2 2/3 innings.
K. Pomeroy (1-0) earned the win, allowing four hits, while fanning two batters, through 3 1/3 scoreless innings.
GAME 2: Mississippi State scored two runs in the first inning, four more in the second, and added a pair in the eighth, en route to an 8-0 victory over Nicholls.
The Colonels were unable to generate any offense against the Bulldogs' defense and stout pitching staff.
Alex Shermer led Nicholls with a 2-for-4 outing, while Reese finished 1-for-3. No other Colonel registered a hit.
B. Rooker paced Mississippi State, batting 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored.
Alex Ernestine (1-1) took the loss, surrendering six runs on six hits through 1 1/3 innings on the hill.
Mike Hanchar was outstanding in relief, tossing four scoreless innings with two strikeouts, while holding the Bulldogs to only one hit.
Z. Houston (1-0) picked up the win for Mississippi State, allowing three hits while fanning 10 batters, through six scoreless innings of work.
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.
