Final Stats NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Nicholls State University baseball team topped Stephen F. Austin, 13-9, in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Jaycees Field.
 
This marked the second consecutive weekend that the Colonels battled back from a series-opening loss by winning the final two games. Nicholls improved its record to 22-27 overall and 11-13 in the Southland Conference, maintaining the eighth spot in the league standings. The Colonels face ninth-place New Orleans (21-28, 10-14 SLC) in a three-game set next weekend.
 
At the plate, seniors Lee Clark and Joey Morales recorded two hits and three RBIs apiece. Freshman Xane Washington notched a team-high three hits.
 
On the mound, redshirt sophomore Austin Bollinger earned the win, improving to 2-4. The Houma native surrendered just one earned run on three hits in 1.2 innings. Freshman Brandon Andrews closed out the contest with 1.2 hitless innings, allowing just a walk.
 
Senior Kyle Knauth plated fellow senior lead-off hitter Ethan Valdez in the top of the first on a single through the right side. Valdez started the game with a single through the left side and advanced to second on a bunt single from Morales.
 
Sophomore Dillon Belle increased the lead to 2-0 in the third when he struck a one-out RBI single up the middle to plate Clark. Following a bases-clearing, three-RBI double in the fifth by Morales, Nicholls held an 8-1 advantage.
 
The Lumberjacks (15-31, 7-17 SLC) erased a seven-run deficit for the second straight game, tying it at eight following a four-run fifth and a three-run sixth. That seven-run outburst was highlighted by a Josh Evans three-run homer to right-center.
 
Clark's two-out, two-RBI single in the next half-inning was a significant piece of the Colonels' five-run answer, giving the Red and Grey a 13-8 margin that would not be relinquished.
 
Evans and Jake Georgiades drove in seven of the Lumberjacks nine runs. Josh Ponder fell to 0-3 as he gave up five earned runs on four hits and a walk in 1.2 innings.
 
Nicholls returns to the Did on Wednesday to face Southern University. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
Get your season or single-game tickets now by calling 985-448-4790 or visiting nichollstickets.com. Please click here for more information on joining the 2018 Nicholls Baseball Coaches Committee. Visit geauxcolonels.com for the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_BASE.