THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team fought through a seven-hour weather delay and a series finale that spanned multiple days and multiple months to complete a three-game sweep of in-state rival McNeese at Ray E. Didier Field.
The Colonels' bizarre doubleheader with the Cowboys with began at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 30 and did not conclude until 12:47 a.m. on May 1, after severe thunderstorms forced multiple schedule changes and an extended suspension of play. After winning game one, 3-0, on Friday, Nicholls picked up a 6-5 victory over McNeese in game two and a 2-1 win in game three.
GAME 1
Trailing by a run in the sixth, the Colonels knocked in a pair to secure a 3-4 advantage, but Mother Nature intervened on the Cowboys behalf. Just as Nicholls captured momentum, severe thunderstorms forced a seven-hour suspension of play.
McNeese emerged from intermission hot, scoring two runs to open the seventh, but the Colonels quickly punched back with three runs in the bottom of the frame. A
Gavin Wehby single through the left side sent
Dylan Manichia home before an
Alex Shermer single to left field drove
Kyle Knauth in and gave the Colonels a 6-4 lead.
The Cowboys chipped in a run in the ninth, but Nicholls held on for the victory.
Wehby led the way offensively for the Colonels, batting 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Shermer finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and Knauth hit 2-for-4 with two runs.
Matt Gallier paced the McNeese offense, batting 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Cole Stapler tossed six innings prior to the weather delay, allowing two runs on nine hits with three strikeouts.
Robbie Petty (3-1) picked up the win, holding the Cowboys to one run on two hits while fanning three batters through 2 2/3 innings of work.
Trent Fontenot (4-5) took the loss, surrendering three runs on three hits over 1 1/3 innings.
GAME 2
Nicholls and McNeese were notched in a 1-1 pitching duel through 7 ½ innings before the Colonels took a 2-1 lead in the eighth.
Alex Ernestine was a dominant force from the mound, holding the Cowboys to just four hits, and
Daniel Goff closed out the final inning to preserve the victory.
Nicholls got on the board early, taking advantage of a miscue by McNeese to secure a 1-0 advantage in the first.
Joey Morales drew a walk and advanced to third on a Wehby single. A fielding error by the Cowboys center fielder allowed Morales to come home.
In the fourth inning, McNeese leadoff hitter Ricky Ramirez tried to stretch a double into a triple and was thrown out by Shermer at third base. Despite the throw and Reese's tag appearing to beat Ramirez by a full yard, the runner was ruled safe. Two batters later a double brought him home.
It looked like the Colonels would take back the lead in the bottom of the frame when
Gavin Wehby appeared to slide safely in at home on a Reese single through the left side, but Wehby was ruled out.
An inning later, Morales stepped to the plate with two outs runners on second and third. Morales hit what looked to be an RBI single to shortstop, but he was ruled out at first, eliminating the run.
With two outs in the sixth, pinch hitter
Quade Smith launched a line drive double that ricocheted off the glove of the Cowboys third baseman. Reese took first on an intentionally walk, before
Ethan Valdez singled through the left side. Smith attempted to come home on the play but was thrown out by the McNeese right fielder, ending the inning.
Persistence ultimately paid off as Nicholls took the lead on a Reese RBI ground out in the eighth that scored Wehby.
Things got tense in the ninth inning when the Cowboys placed two runners on with no outs, but Goff and the Colonel defense locked down to seal the win.
Smith turned in a perfect 2-for-2 outing at the plate, while Reese finished 1-for-3 with an RBI. Wehby paced the Nicholls offense for a third straight game, batting 3-for-4 with a run in the nightcap. Wehby hit 8-for-11 with four RBIs, three runs, a triple, a double and a sacrifice bunt over the three-game sweep.
Connor Crane led McNeese offensively in the finale, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Ernestine (3-3) earned the win, holding the Cowboys to one run with nine strikeouts through eight innings on the mound. Goff was awarded his second save of the season after hurling the game's final hitless frame.
Collin Kober (2-2) took the loss for McNeese, surrendering one run on two hits through two innings on the hill.
Nicholls will next head to Monroe for a non-conference battle against ULM at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The Colonels will then travel to Texas for a three-game Southland Conference series at Houston Baptist, beginning May 6. Nicholls is set to host Alcorn State on May 11.
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball visit geauxcolonels.com. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_BASE.
