HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Nicholls State University baseball program showed a valiant effort Saturday in an attempt to snap Sam Houston State University's 15-game Southland Conference winning streak, but the Colonels were downed 6-5 at Don Sanders Stadium.
Like Friday's game, The Colonels (18-15, 5-6 SLC) scored the first run of the contest.
In the top of the fourth inning, sophomore infielder Ethan Valdez ripped a leadoff single into center field. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior infielder Juan Givan.
During junior designated hitter Gage Teer's at bat, Valdez stole third successfully on a curveball in the dirt and advanced home on a poor throw from Bearkats (22-9, 11-0 SLC) catcher Robie Rojas.
After commencing the game with three scoreless innings, Nicholls starter Cayden Hatcher nearly had a four-pitch inning in the fourth. The junior righty forced two outs in two pitches, but a Texas leaguer into shallow left and a shot to left-center produced back-to-back doubles and a SHSU run that tied the game.
Junior shortstop Joey Morales led off the fifth by driving a 2-0 pitch out of the park in left field, putting the Colonels back ahead 2-1.
Senior outfielder Quade Smith followed with a one-out, inside-out double. Junior outfielder Chet Niehaus then hit a bloop single to left, plating Smith to increase the margin to 3-1.
The Bearkats responded with a five-run fifth inning on five hits including a Clayton Harp two-run homer. Four of those five hits went for extra bases.
Junior outfielder Gavin Wehby stroked a one-out double to spark a rally in the sixth. Morales then plated Wehby on a single to right field. With the bases loaded and two outs, the Colonels were given its fifth run on a balk and catcher's interference to slice the deficit to one at 6-5.
Senior Daniel Goff and junior Alex Ernestine tossed four scoreless relief innings to keep Nicholls within striking distance. Goff did not allow a hit and struck out two in 1.2 innings of work.
The Colonels had runners on first and third with one out in the ninth when junior pinch hitter Lee Clark was picked off at first. Teer then walked to replace Clark with two outs. In a seven-pitch battle, junior infielder Kyle Knauth went down swinging to end the game.
Hatcher moved to 3-3 with the loss, giving up six runs on 10 hits.
SHSU starter S Ballew improved to 4-1 as he allowed four runs, eight hits and a walk and struck out eight in 5.1 innings pitched.
Nicholls was only outhit by one, 13-12, as Morales, Niehaus, Smith and Valdez notched two apiece. This marked Niehaus' ninth multiple-hit performance in his last 12 outings.
Rojas led the Bearkats offensively with three hits which included two doubles.
The Colonels look to salvage the series in the finale Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT.
