THIBODAUX, La. -- The Nicholls State University baseball program (1-5, 0-0 Southland) suffered a second consecutive tight contest to visiting Arkansas-Little Rock (5-2, 0-0 Sun Belt) in the Louisiana's Cajun Bayou Mardi Gras Classic, surrendering seven decisive runs late in the matchup as the Trojans secured an 11-4 victory Saturday evening at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field.

In similar fashion to the tournament's opening battle between these two programs, the lead bounced back and forth in the opening few frames, with Nicholls claiming an early 1-0 advantage in the first inning before UALR surged back with three in the third and another in the fourth. Combined with a solo run in the third, the Red & Gray managed to knot the contest at four behind two of their own in the fourth; in the seventh, however, the Trojans batted around plus a few in a seven-score explosion, jumping out to an 11-4 edge to clinch the win.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
-- With the loss, the Colonels drop to 1-5 overall on the season while Arkansas-Little Rock improves to a 5-2 mark.
-- On the mound, sophomore LHP Shane Mejia Jr. composed a competitive outing in his second start of the season, striking out six while allowing four runs (three earned) on six total hits in an eventual no decision. Junior RHP Cade Evans (0-1) replaced the southpaw, surrendering five runs on three hits as he picked up his first loss on the year.
-- Notably, sophomore RHP Nick Hill impressed across the final 2.1 frames for the Red & Gray, giving up just one hit and no runs with a solo strikeout.
-- At the plate, six Colonels posted hits in the matchup while three collected RBIs. Specifically, redshirt sophomore Xane Washington blasted a critical bases-loaded single up the middle late in the fourth, tying the game at four apiece as both Alex Galy and Chris Sandberg came home on the play.

UP NEXT
The Colonels shift focus to fellow Southland member McNeese in the Red & Gray's final two contests of the Mardi Gras Classic, battling the Cowboys both Sunday and Monday evenings at 6 p.m.

STAY SOCIAL
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