THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team rallied with nine runs in the seventh inning to close out the inaugural Mardi Gras Invitational: Beads and Baseball on the Bayou presented by Bayou Lafourche Area and Visitors Bureau with an 11-4 victory over Wagner Saturday evening at Ray E. Didier Field.
 
The Colonels (4-3) found themselves down 4-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh before three hits and four Wagner errors fueled the big inning. Lee Clark drove in one on a bases loaded walk before two straight errors gave Nicholls a 5-4 advantage. Ethan Valdez blooped a perfect bunt to plate another, then Chet Niehaus had the game's most exciting play on a base hit to center with the bags full.
 
Niehaus' ball got past the center fielder and rolled all the way to the wall. With three runners crossing the plate, Niehaus hustled around the bases and beat the throw home for a 10-4 lead.
 
Gavin Wehby capped the inning with a RBI double and the bullpen took care of the rest.
 
Adam Tarver picked up the win after throwing 2.1 innings without allowing a hit and struck out three. Mike Hanchar and Kyle Craft each pitched a shutout inning of relief. Cayden Hatcher made the start, allowing four earned on eight hits and struck out four.
 
Nicholls led 1-0 in the first on a RBI groundout by Quade Smith, but Wagner took the lead with its own bases loaded hit.  With two outs, the Seahawks loaded the bases after Anthony Pacora drew a walk in a 13-pitch at bat. The next batter, Kyle Cala, tripled to deep right center for a 3-1 advantage. Wagner added one more on an infield hit.
 
The Colonels got one back in the sixth when Clark powered a solo shot to right center to make it 4-2 Wagner. Clark and Niehaus led the offense with two hits each.
 
Wagner outhit Nicholls, 10-7, but finished with six errors. Rico Viani was charged with the loss after Nicholls scored four unearned runs in his third of an inning pitched.
 
UP NEXT
Nicholls will head to Baton Rouge on Mardi Gras Tuesday to take on No. 2 LSU. First pitch at Alex Box Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.