NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team completely shut down the high-powered No. 11 Tulane offense on Tuesday night, earning a 2-0 shutout victory and completing the Colonels' first series sweep of the Green Wave since the 1995 season.
 
The Nicholls (23-30, 11-16 SLC) pitching staff was dominant, combining to throw eight strikeouts on the night, while holding Tulane (35-16, 13-6 AAC) to just six hits. The Colonel defense also rose to the occasion, repeatedly making tremendous diving and leaping grabs at all positions. And while Nicholls didn't exactly light up the scoreboard, the Colonels did something they struggled to do most of the season – put the ball in play during key moments.
 
Kyle Knauth ignited Nicholls in the seventh inning with a monster leadoff double to right field. Gavin Wehby immediately followed with a bunt single to third base, narrowly beating out the throw at first with a full-speed sprint. The play advanced Knauth to third. On the next pitch, the Green Wave attempted to back pick Knauth at third base, but the ball sailed into the outfield and Knauth easily scored while Wehby took second. A Kyle Reese ground out moved Wehby to third, before a wild pitch allowed him to come home.
 
With one out and a man on first in the eighth, Tulane designated hitter Jeremy Montalbano absolutely crushed the first pitch he saw, sending it soaring toward left center for what looked to be the game-tying home run. Justin Holt made a mad dash for the outfield wall, jumping off of his left foot while placing his right foot midway up the wall on the Capital One sign. The 5'11" junior pushed off to obtain an extra couple feet of lift and robbed Montalbano with one of the most incredible catches at any level in the country this year.
 
Ethan Valdez was perfect at the plate, batting 2-for-2 to lead the Colonel offense. Knauth finished 2-for-4 and Wehby hit 1-for-4, each scoring a run. Quade Smith turned in a 1-for-3 outing, while Reese went 1-for-4 on the night.
 
Montalbano paced the Green Wave offense with a 2-for-3 outing.
 
Zach Thiac got the start for Nicholls, tossing 5 1/3 innings and holding Tulane to five hits with four strikeouts. Adam Tarver (2-1) earned the win, holding the Green Wave to just one hit, while fanning four batters through three innings on the mound. Robbie Petty earned his second save of the season, pitching the final 2/3 innings without allowing a hit.
 
J.P. France (5-2) took the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with nine strikeouts through 6 2/3 innings.
 
The Colonels will look to carry momentum into an away-home-away series with New Orleans, set to begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball visit geauxcolonels.com. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_BASE.