BEAUMONT, Texas – The Nicholls State University baseball team was notched in a 2-2 tie with Lamar midway through the sixth inning, but the Cardinals scored five runs in the bottom of the frame and held off the Colonels for a 7-2 victory at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
 
Lamar (21-7, 7-2 SLC) scored first, taking a 2-0 lead after one.
 
Nicholls (12-18, 3-9 SLC) cut the lead in half in the fourth after Kyle Knauth doubled down the left field line and eventually came home as Juan Givan reached on a fielder's choice.
 
The Colonels evened things up in the sixth inning. Ethan Valdez singled through the left side and advanced to third on a monster right field double by Knauth. An Alex Shermer sac fly on the next at bat sent Valdez in for the tying run.
 
The Cardinals took advantage of miscues by Nicholls to pull away in the bottom of the frame. A throwing error allowed the leadoff batter to reach before a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases. Lamar used a pair of singles, a double and a fielder's choice over the next few at bats to score five runs before the Colonels could close out the inning.
 
Knauth hit 2-for-4 with a run to lead Nicholls offensively. Valdez finished 2-for-5 with a run and Shermer turned in a 1-for-3 outing with an RBI.
 
Bryndan Arredondo and Jacoby Middleton each went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run to pace the Cardinals.
 
Alex Ernestine got the start for the Colonels, allowing two runs on four this through three innings of work. Adam Tarver (1-1) took the loss, surrendering four runs (three earned) on one hit through two innings.
 
Travis Moore (2-1) picked up the win for the Cardinals, giving up just two hits with four strikeouts through 2 2/3 innings.
 
The teams will meet again at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, before the Colonels head to San Antonio for a three-game Southland Conference matchup against Incarnate Word.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball, visit geauxcolonels.com.