SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Making his first collegiate appearance in his hometown,
Ethan Valdez crushed a leadoff triple to left center, igniting the Nicholls State University baseball team to a 8-4 victory over Incarnate Word on Friday night.
The Colonels (13-19, 4-9 SLC) notched four hits and capitalized on an error by the Cardinals (7-23, 2-8 SLC) to take a quick three-run lead in the first inning.
Incarnate Word responded with two hits in the bottom of the frame and took advantage of a Nicholls miscue to score a pair of runs.
The Colonels punched back with two runs in the second, securing a 5-2 lead. A
Kyle Knauth single scored Valdez before
Gavin Wehby reached on a fielder's choice that sent
Joey Morales home.
Nicholls added a pair of security runs in the fifth inning after
Quade Smith registered a two-run single that allowed Knauth and Wehby to come in.
The Cardinals converted a double and single into a run in the bottom of the frame.
The Colonels regained their five-run advantage in the eighth inning when Valdez scored on a Knauth sac fly.
Incarnate Word chipped in a sac fly of their own in the bottom of the frame, but
Dylan Manichia ended the inning with a Sports Center-worthy acrobatic leaping grab on a line drive to third base.
An error gave the Cardinals life in the ninth, but Nicholls locked down and preserved the win.
Playing in front of nearly 70 friends and family members, Valdez led the Colonels with a 3-for-5 night, two stolen bases and three runs scored. Knauth finished with another outstanding performance at the plate, hitting 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Morales turned in a 1-for-2 night with a pair of runs and an RBI, while Smith and Wehby each contributed two RBIs in the victory.
Brance Kahle paced the Incarnate Word offense, batting 1-for-3 with three RBIs.
Justin Sinibaldi (3-3) had a dominant outing on the mound, tossing a complete game and recording 10 strikeouts. He allowed four runs (two earned) on eight hits without walking a batter.
Bernie Martinez (0-6) took the loss, surrendering five runs on six hits through two innings of work.
First pitch for game two will is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday, while game three is set for a 1 p.m. start on Sunday.
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Nicholls
Saturday: RHP Cole Stapler (2-4, 4.06 ERA, 26 SO, 44.1 IP)
Sunday: RHP Jake Smith (1-2, 7.64 ERA, 22 SO, 17.2 IP)
Incarnate Word
Saturday: RHP John Shull (1-2, 3.99 ERA, 30 SO, 38.1 IP)
Sunday: RHP Cody Richey (0-2, 8.36 ERA, 7 SO, 14.0 IP)
Following this weekend's action the Colonels will travel to Baton Rouge for a date with Southern at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Nicholls will then host a three-game Southland 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.
