SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Nicholls State University baseball team trailed by one heading into the fourth on Sunday, but the Colonels scored six runs over the next three innings and cruised to a 8-3 victory, taking a 2-1 series win against Incarnate Word in Military City.
The Cardinals (8-24, 3-9 SLC) appeared to be making a move in the bottom of the sixth after scoring a run and placing runners on first and second with only one out. Head Coach
Seth Thibodeaux headed to the mound to make a pitching change, but lefty
Alex Ernestine said, "I want the ball coach." Thibodeaux left Ernestine in the game and the next two batters were retired in just three pitches.
After falling behind, 1-0, in the second inning, the Colonels (13-20, 5-10 SLC) tied things up in the fourth after
Gavin Wehby tripled and came home on a Holt ground out.
Nicholls blew things open with a four-run fifth inning.
Alex Tucker,
Ethan Valdez and
Joey Morales scored on a
Kyle Knauth single, before a Wehby single to center field brought Knauth in.
The Colonels added a run in the sixth when
Quade Smith came home on a
Dylan Manichia single through the right side.
After allowing a run in the bottom of the frame, Nicholls got the run right back with a Manichia single that scored Smith in the eighth.
Morales padded the Colonel lead with a ninth-inning solo bomb over the left field wall.
Incarnate Word led off with a home run in the bottom of the frame but the Cardinals would come no closer.
Wehby finished with an RBI and a run scored on a perfect 5-for-5 performance at the plate. Knauth continued his hot hitting with a 3-for-5 outing, two RBIs and a run. Manichia went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and Morales hit 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Smith turned in a 1-for-5 day and two runs, while Tucker finished 1-for-2 with a run.
Cory Duran paced the Cardinal offense, batting 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
Ernestine (2-1) picked up the win, holding Incarnate Word to one run on three hits with two strikeouts through four innings of work.
Cody Richey (0-3) took the loss, surrendering four runs on six hits through 4 1/3 innings on the hill.
The Colonels will next travel to Baton Rouge for a date with Southern at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Nicholls will then host a three-game Southland Conference series against Central Arkansas, beginning at 6 p.m. on April 15.
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball, visit geauxcolonels.com.
