THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team played a rare two-day doubleheader against Sacred Heart that began at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and lasted until Saturday morning. The Colonels earned a 5-0 victory on Friday, but the Pioneers escaped with a 7-5 win on Saturday.
Thunderstorms dropped five inches of rain at Ray E. Didier Field on Thursday, and with additional rain in the forecast, Nicholls (7-9, 1-2 SLC) and Sacred Heart (2-8) elected to play in the short window between Friday night and Saturday morning.
GAME 1 The Colonels scored five runs on eight hits, while holding the Pioneers scoreless behind a dominant pitching effort.
In the fourth inning Brandon Herigel singled through the left side to score
Kyle Reese and
Justin Holt came home on an
Alex Tucker sacrifice fly, before a
Gavin Wehby double to right center brought
Devin Morrill and Herigel in.
Wehby scored on a wild pitch in the sixth to give Nicholls its final run of the game.
Wehby finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run to lead the Colonels offensively.
Ted Shaw and Jesus Medina each hit 2-for-3 for Sacred Heart.
Justin Sinibaldi (2-2) picked up the win with his best outing of the young season. He tossed nine strikeouts while allowing just five hits through seven innings on the mound.
Zach Thiac and
Robbie Petty allowed one hit apiece over the final two innings.
John Sostarich (0-2) took the loss, surrendering four runs on four hits through 3 2/3 innings of work.
GAME 2 The Pioneers grabbed a 5-2 advantage in the second inning, and held off a late Nicholls rally to escape with a seven-inning victory.
Sacred Heart used five singles and a double in a disastrous second inning to take a 5-0 lead.
The Colonels answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame on a pair of groundouts.
The Pioneers added a run in the third and another in the fifth, before Nicholls tried to mount a late comeback.
In the bottom of the fifth, an
Alex Shermer single to left center scored Morrill, before a
Trevor Flynn single through the left side sent Shermer and Tucker home.
The Colonels were unable to score over the final two innings of the predetermined seven-inning contest.
Dylan Manichia finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Shermer hit 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run for Nicholls.
Jake Friar led Sacred Heart offensively, batting 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Cole Stapler (2-2) took the loss, giving up six runs on eight hits while fanning seven batters through four innings.
Hunter Speer was outstanding in relief, allowing one unearned run while recording two strikeouts through the final three hitless innings.
Alex Perry (1-0) was awarded the win for the Pioneers, fanning five batters while allowing two hits through 2 1/3 innings on the hill.
The Colonels will conclude their nine-game home stand with a battle against Tulane at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and a matchup with Southern at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball, visit geauxcolonels.com.
