THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team used runs in the sixth and eighth innings to even the score against HBU before a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth allowed
Ethan Valdez to score from third as the Colonels swept the Huskies with a 3-2 walk off victory Sunday at Ray E. Didier Field.
With the sweep, the Colonels upped their record to 12-8 overall and 5-1 in the Southland, while HBU slipped to 8-10 and 0-3.
Like the rest of the series, both teams relied on outstanding pitching as the Colonels'
Mike Hanchar and HBU's Zach Carter each turned in 8.1 innings of work. Hanchar's lone mistake of the day came with two outs in the third when Spencer Holloran belted a 2-run shot, but like in the previous two games, the Colonels were able to put together late runs.
Nicholls cut the lead in half in the sixth when
Alex Tucker laced a base hit to left center, plating
Quade Smith. Tucker then came through in the eighth to tie the game on a sacrifice fly.
In the ninth, pinch hitter
Chet Niehaus led off the frame by reaching on a two-base error. Valdez then laid down a bunt to try to move Niehaus to third, but the ball was fielded and fired to third to cut down the lead runner. But the Colonels then got some help from Carter, who threw away a pickoff attempt to first which allowed Valdez to get all the way to third. With one down and an 0-2 count against
Troy Cahill, Carter threw a high wild pitch past the plate and Valdez dove in for the game-winning run.
Although he received a no decision, Hanchar was outstanding once again, striking out four while scattering four hits. In his eight-plus innings of work, Hanchar retired the Huskies in order six times. On the season, Hanchar posts a 1.54 earned run average and a .169 opponent batting average.
Adam Tarver (4-1) picked up the win after two big outs in the ninth. Against Hanchar, the leadoff batter reached on an error by Morales at short after his throw pulled
Juan Givan off of first. Following a sac bunt, Zane Otten hit a dribbler to third that stayed inside the foul line for an infield single, putting runners at first and third. HBU elected to lay down a squeeze bunt, but Tarver was able to quickly field it and throw home to get the runner. He then got a fly out to right to end the inning.
Nicholls had six hits off of Carter, led by a 2-for-3 day by Tucker. The Colonels' 1-5 hitters accounted for all of the offense with Smith, Givan and Wehby all singling and Morales added a double.
UP NEXT
The Colonels will host Southern for a midweek contest Wednesday, March 22. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
