THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team fell behind, 3-1, in the first inning, and the LSU Tigers took advantage of a three Colonel errors, to pull away for a 9-4 victory in front of a record crowd at Ray E. Didier Field.
The matchup between Nicholls and LSU was sold out more than two weeks in advance, and a reported crowd of 3,698 fans flooded The Did to take in the action. With every inch of available space being utilized by fans and the Cox Sports Broadcasting crew, hundreds of additional Colonel faithful enjoyed the game via live stream on a giant outdoor inflatable movie screen in the tailgate area.
The Tigers drew a pair of walks to open the night, before a Beau Jordan single loaded the bases. Bryce Jordan immediately crushed a two-run double down the right field line, and LSU added a third score on a Greg Deichmann sacrifice fly.
Nicholls answered with a run in the bottom of the frame.
Ethan Valdez walked, stole second and advanced to third on a
Joey Morales single.
Kyle Reese subsequently reached on a fielder's choice, sending Valdez home.
After a scoreless second and third inning, the Tigers opened things up in the fourth. Cole Freeman notched a leadoff double, before back-to-back Colonel errors eventually led to three LSU runs.
The Tigers scored a pair in the fifth and a run in the sixth, to take a commanding 9-1 lead.
Alex Shermer doubled off the left field wall in the eighth and came home on a
Dylan Manichia single, but LSU struck out the next two batters to close out the frame.
In the bottom of the ninth, pinch hitter
Justin Ware struck out swinging, but reached first on a wild pitch. A
Kyle Knauth ground out advanced Ware to second, before a Reese single up the middle sent him home. Shermer scored Reese with his second double in as many innings, but the Tigers closed out the game on a fly out to center.
Jake Smith (1-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits, with four walks and a strikeout through 2 1/3 innings. In relief,
Zach Hansen surrendered four runs, one earned, on three hits, while fanning one batter over 1 2/3.
Robbie Petty gave up one run on two hits in an inning of action, and
Mike Hanchar allowed one unearned run through an inning on the hill.
Adam Tarver tossed a scoreless frame, fanned one batter and surrendered one hit.
Hunter Speer was the most effective pitcher for Nicholls on the night, throwing a hitless eighth inning, while striking out two Tigers.
Cole Stapler closed out the game, allowing one hit and fanning one batter in the ninth.
Austin Bain got the start for LSU, giving up a run on four hits, with a walk and a strikeout through two innings. Alden Cartwright (2-0) was awarded the win, fanning three batters, while holding the Colonels to three hits over three innings on the mound.
Reese paced the Nicholls offense with two RBIs on a 2-for-5 night. Shermer also finished 2-for-5, while scoring one run and driving in another. Manichia recorded an RBI on a 1-for-3 outing.
Bryce Jordan led the Tigers offensively, batting 2-for-3, with three RBIs. Freeman finished 3-for-5, with a pair of runs, and Jake Fraley hit 2-for-4, while scoring once and driving two in.
The Colonels will next host Abilene Christian in a three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m., before hosting a three-game series against Sacred Heart, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 10.
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball, visit geauxcolonels.com.
