THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team clinched their weekend series with a 6-5 victory over Central Arkansas on Saturday at Ray E. Didier Field.
Tied, 4-4, in eighth inning, the Colonels (16-20, 7-10 SLC) scored a pair of runs and held off the Bears (14-19, 5-9 SLC) in the ninth to escape with the win.
Central Arkansas got on the board first, grabbing a 1-0 advantage in the opening frame.
Nicholls immediately responded with a run in the bottom of the inning after
Ethan Valdez came home on a
Gavin Wehby single to left field.
Dylan Manichia gave the Colonels a second-inning lead with a monster double to left field that sent
Justin Holt in.
Nicholls chipped in a run in the fifth when Valdez scored on a
Kyle Knauth single, and the Colonels secured a 4-1 advantage after Holt came home on a Manichia sac fly.
Things got dicey in the eighth as the Bears converted three singles and a double into three runs to tie the ballgame.
Nicholls immediately punched back in the bottom of the frame.
Quade Smith doubled, advancing Holt to third. A fielding error by the Central Arkansas left fielder allowed Holt to come in. Smith subsequently advanced to third on a Manichia ground out, before coming home on a passed ball.
The Bears scored a run in the ninth, but the Colonels closed out the game with a pop out to first.
Wehby led Nicholls offensively with a 3-for-4 night and an RBI, while Holt finished 1-for-3 with three runs scored. Manichia hit 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, and Valdez turned in a 1-for-3 night with two runs.
Tyler Langley paced the Central Arkansas offense, batting 4-for-5 with two runs scored. Christ Townsend finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run.
Cole Stapler got the start for the Colonels, allowing one run on seven hits with two strikeouts through seven solid innings of work.
Robbie Petty (2-1) picked up the win, allowing one run on two hits with a pair of punch-outs over the final two innings.
Cody Davenport (3-4) took the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts through seven innings on the hill.
First pitch for the series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Nicholls
Sunday: LHP Alex Ernestine (2-1, 9.18 ERA, 10 SO, 16.2 IP)
Central Arkansas
Sunday: RHP Riley Echols (1-1, 4.39 ERA, 14 SO, 26.2 IP)
Following this weekend's action, the Colonels will face a road challenge against Louisiana-Lafayette at 6 p.m. on April 19. Nicholls will then fly to Lincoln for a three-game series against Nebraska, beginning at 6:35 p.m. on April 22.
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball, visit geauxcolonels.com.
