BILOXI, Miss. – The Nicholls State University baseball team trailed by three runs on Wednesday night, but the Dirty Red fought back to earn a thrilling walk-off win over South Alabama, 5-4, at MGM Park.
Trailing, 4-3, with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth,
Alex Tucker scalded a grounder to second base. The second baseman bobbled the ball, allowing Tucker to reach and
Juan Givan to come home for the game-tying run. The Jaguars (18-7) compounded their mistake by attempting a late throw to first. The ball sailed over the head of USA's first baseman and
Dylan Manichia slid in at home as the Colonels (11-15) stormed the field.
The Jaguars converted a first-inning double, single and ground out into an early 1-0 lead.
Nicholls capitalized on a pair of South Alabama miscues to tie things up in the fourth.
Alex Shermer reached on an error by the first baseman and stole second, before a failed pickoff attempt sailed into the outfield and allowed him to take third.
Trevor Flynn grounded out on the next, sending Shermer home.
The Jaguars recaptured the lead with a run in the sixth. USA led off with a walk, before an RBI double to left center gave them a 2-1 advantage.
The Jaguars added a pair of runs in the seventh inning and maintained a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Nicholls chipped away at the Jaguar advantage in the frame when a
Brandon Harigel doubled to left field, sending
Ethan Valdez and
Kyle Knauth home.
The Colonels loaded the bases in the ninth after Givan reached on an error and Manichia and Valdez notched back-to-back singles.
Harigel finished 1-for-1 with two RBIs. Valdez hit 2-for-4 with a run and Manichia went 1-for-4 with a run.
Drew LaBounty led South Alabama with a 1-for-4 outing, an RBI and a run.
Zach Thiac (3-1) picked up the win, allowing two hits with three strikeouts over the final 2 2/3 innings.
Shane McKinley (1-1) took the loss, surrendering two unearned runs on three hits in the final inning.
Nicholls went without committing an error for the first time since their 2-1 victory over Tulane on March 15 in Thibodaux. Prior to Wednesday's contest the Colonels had committed at least one error in eight straight games, going 2-6 over that stretch.
Wednesday was a reunion of sorts for Nicholls as the game marked the first time the Colonels faced their former pitching coach, Chris Prothro. Under Prothro's leadership Nicholls finished with the top pitching staff in the Southland Conference in 2014 and 2015. The Colonels also earned back-to-back Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year honors and had four pitchers taken in the MLB draft over the last two seasons. Prothro took a job with the Jaguars over the summer.
Nicholls third baseman and Mississippi native,
Kyle Reese made a visit to the Colonel dugout during pregame warm ups to wish his teammates well. It was the first time Reese was able to attend a game since his gruesome injury on March 18.
Nicholls will next face an away-home-away series with Southeastern La., beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday in Hammond. The Colonels will then head to Beaumont, Texas for a two-game non-conference series against Lamar.
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball, visit geauxcolonels.com.
