THIBODAUX, La. – Junior first baseman Kyle Knauth secured a game-high three hits, but the Nicholls State University baseball program fell in a tight 5-4 battle to UIW Friday night at Ray E. Didier Field.  

UIW (16-19, 5-9 SLC) scored two runs in the top of the first inning on singles from David Anaya and Kyler Genenbacher.   

Senior designated hitter Juan Givan commenced the bottom of the third inning with a double down the right-field line. With one out, Givan later advanced to third on an errant pick-off attempt from Cardinals starter Bernie Martinez.

Senior right fielder Quade Smith then drove home Givan on a single to center field. Junior first baseman Kyle Knauth later plated Smith on a hard single that skipped off Anaya's glove, tying the game at two apiece.

The Colonels (19-18, 6-8 SLC) took a 3-2 lead in the fourth after junior shortstop Joey Morales hit a triple off the bottom of the wall in left-center field and advanced home on a Givan sacrifice fly deep enough into center.

The Cardinals regained a 4-3 advantage in the next half-inning, scoring via a Kyler Genenbacher single and again on a bases-loaded wild pitch.

Nicholls countered with a run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at four. Senior catcher Alex Tucker walked to begin the inning and took second after a sacrifice bunt from Morales. Givan then singled deep into the 5-6 hole and an off-line throw from UIW shortstop Bryce Shepherd allowed Tucker to score.

Relief pitchers Austin Bollinger, Alex Ernestine and Daniel Goff held the Cardinals scoreless for the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

Sophomore Adam Tarver came in to close the ninth. He walked Anaya, the leadoff hitter, who eventually advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Two singles later, Anaya touched home with Garrett Terrell earning the game-winning RBI.

Tarver dropped to 6-2 on the season. Cardinals reliever Cody Allen improved to 3-0. Givan and Morales each notched two hits.