Justin Holt
Zachary Carlton
3
Nicholls NICH 20-26, 10-12 SLC
8
Winner HBU HBU 21-23, 10-12 SLC
Nicholls NICH
20-26, 10-12 SLC
3
Final
8
HBU HBU
21-23, 10-12 SLC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Nicholls NICH 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 8 2
HBU HBU 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 3 X 8 10 1

W: Carter, Zach (2-3) L: Sinibaldi, Justin (5-5) S: Zarosky, Dylan (9)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Colonels Fall to Huskies in Series Opener

HOUSTON, Texas – The Nicholls State University baseball team fell behind early and never recovered as Houston Baptist held on for an 8-3 victory on Friday evening at Husky Field.
 
The Colonels (20-26, 10-12 SLC) had a disastrous start to their series opener as the Huskies (21-23, 10-12 SLC) converted a pair of singles, two hit batters and a walk into a three-run first inning.
 
Houston Baptist added a run in the third and another in the fourth to secure a 5-0 advantage before Nicholls could get on the board.
 
The Colonels made it a game with three runs in the seventh inning. After back-to-back walks by Alex Shermer and Kyle Reese, Ethan Valdez singled to load the bases. An Alex Tucker ground out scored Shermer and erased the shutout. Dylan Manichia subsequently singled through the left side, bringing Reese in and advancing Valdez to third. After a pitching change, Justin Holt notched a sac fly that allowed Valdez to come home. Joey Morales singled through the left side and Kyle Knauth drew a walk to load the bases, but a fly out ended the frame before Nicholls to do any additional damage.
 
Just when it looked like the Colonels had captured momentum, the Huskies dashed their hopes with a three-run eighth.
 
Nicholls had one final opportunity at a comeback in the ninth inning, but it was just not the Colonels' day. Just as Tucker stepped to the plate, the sprinklers at Husky Field activated, sending water flying in all directions and momentarily halting play. Following the delay, Houston Baptist recorded three strikeouts to seal the victory.
 
Holt went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Reese hit 2-for-3 with a run to lead Nicholls offensively. Valdez finished 1-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Carey Jones paced the Husky offense with a 1-for-1 outing and three RBIs.
 
Justin Sinibaldi (5-5) took the loss, surrendering five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts through 5 2/3 innings on the hill.
 
Zach Carter (2-3) picked up his second win of the year, holding the Colonels to three runs on six hits while fanning two batters in 6 1/3 innings of work.
 
First pitch for game two is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, with the series finale set for a 2 p.m. start on Sunday.
 
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
 
Nicholls
Saturday: RHP Cole Stapler (3-5, 3.55 ERA, 38 SO, 71.0 IP)
Sunday: LHP Alex Ernestine (3-3, 6.56 ERA, 23 SO, 35.2 IP)
 
Houston Baptist
Saturday: LHP Christian Thames (2-5, 3.36 ERA, 31 SO, 56.1 IP)
Sunday: RHP Addison Russ (7-4, 3.35 ERA, 55 SO, 80.2 IP)
 
The Colonels are set for a 6 p.m. matchup with Alcorn State on May 11. Nicholls will then host a three-game Southland Conference series against Northwestern State, beginning at 6 p.m. on May 13.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball visit geauxcolonels.com. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_BASE.