THIBODAUX, La. -- The Nicholls State University baseball team fought back from a four-run deficit late in Friday evening's series opener against Houston Baptist, but a ninth-inning homer and four more runs in the 12th pushed the Huskies over the top, capturing an 11-7 victory over the Colonels at Didier Field in Thibodaux, La.

With the loss, Nicholls falls to a 23-23 overall record (10-12 Southland) on the season while Houston Baptist improves to a 16-29 mark (8-14 Southland).

Alec Paz, Mason Turner and Adam Tarver helped the Colonels draw first blood in the fourth, as the former posted a leadoff single before Turner and Tarver each drove runs home on a double and single, respectively. The Huskies pulled within one during the sixth, as a leadoff triple coupled with an RBI groundout tacked on a run. During the ensuing frame, the HBU offense put together a notably strong showing, pushing across five runs behind five singles and a triple, surging to a 6-2 edge entering the final stretch of the game. 

Nicholls responded in kind just an inning later, as Champ Davison sparked the comeback bid behind a leadoff single through the left side. After an Austin France walk and a Paz hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Dane Simon laid down a near-perfect bunt, forcing an error by the Huskies' pitcher and allowing a pair to score with no outs surrendered. A Tarver hit-by-pitch filled up the diamond once again, and Brady Bell pulled the Colonels within one off an RBI walk. Simon scored on the ensuing at-bat -- a double play -- before a throwing error by the HBU pitcher gave Nicholls its second lead of the game.

Later in the ninth, Houston Baptist managed to force extra innings off a solo home run by Chase Talbot, knotting the score at 7-7. Following two scoreless innings, the Huskies loaded the bases before notching three runs off an error and another behind a sacrifice fly, sealing the eventual 11-7 victory.

On the mound, Trever Kilcrease powered through a solid 6.0 frames, boasting a no-hitter until a Talbot triple in the sixth. The junior retired six batters on strikes while giving up three runs on as many hits. Out of the bullpen, the Colonels turned to five relievers throughout the evening, but none impressed like Beau Balado (1-4), who tossed 2.2 innings (primarily in extras) with a game-high seven strikeouts. While the junior absorbed the loss statistically, the southpaw pitcher surrendered just two runs on one hit in a near-dominant outing.

UP NEXT
With the series opener concluded, the Colonels aim to even the three-game set in Saturday afternoon's second bout, first pitch set for 4 p.m. at Didier Field.

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