HAMMOND, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team stunned Southeastern Louisiana University Friday night with a 6-3 win at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

"I feel like that's the most complete performance against a really good opponent that we've had all year long," Nicholls head coach Seth Thibodeaux said. "I thought we executed pitches, weathered a storm and responded with a five-spot after a big three-run inning by them."

Ernestine carried a no-hitter through the first 5.1 innings until second baseman Cody Grosse poked a one-out single to left-center field. The lefty allowed three runs on four hits through 6.1 innings to improve his record to 3-3. Graduate student Christian Bahlinger pitched flawlessly for 2.2 innings, picking up his fourth save while striking out three.

At the plate, senior shortstop Joey Morales collected a career-high four hits. The Colonels outhit the Lions 12-4 as seven student-athletes recorded a base knock.

SLU (25-17, 12-7 SLC) starting pitcher Josh Green tossed 6.1 innings and gave up four runs on eight hits, dropping his record to 5-3. Lions 1-4 hitters combined to go 4-for-15 while 5-9 did not record a hit in 15 plate appearances.

Nicholls (16-23, 7-9 SLC) strung together back-to-back two-out singles to take an early 1-0 advantage in the third inning. The rally commenced with hit up the middle by freshman Nathan Tribble. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, Tribble was plated two batters later when Niehaus stroked an infield single to Grosse.

Following Grosse's hit, Nathan Pilutti dropped a double into right field and Drew Avans followed with a bases-clearing triple to right-center. Taylor Schwaner then drove home Avans on a single to left-center but was thrown out at second by Niehaus.

Going into a 3-1 hole, the Colonels responded in the next half-inning with five runs on six hits. Senior Lee Clark led off the frame with a double to right field and freshman Xane Washington followed with a bunt single. Redshirt junior infielder Brady Bell plated Clark on a shot that Grosse couldn't hang on to.

A sacrifice bunt by senior Gage Teer ended Josh Green's outing. Reliever Josh Biddy surrendered three consecutive Nicholls hits, highlighted by a two-RBI double to the gap in left-center by senior Ethan Valdez. This barrage resulted in a 6-3 margin for the Colonels through six and a half innings.

Bahlinger relieved Ernestine with one out in the seventh and runners on second and third. The Mandeville native struck out the next batter and then induced a groundout to get out of the jam.

The series concludes Saturday at Alumni Field with a 3 p.m. doubleheader.  The first game of the doubleheader will be free.
Visit geauxcolonels.com and follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_BASE for the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball. Season tickets, six suite tickets per game at $20/ticket, 15- and 25-game flex packages and Coaches Committee passes are available for purchase. Contact the ticket office at 985-448-4790 or go to www.nichollstickets.com for more information.