THIBODAUX, La. -- Despite facing a five-run deficit for virtually the entire first half of the midweek matchup, the Nicholls State University baseball program (7-8, 4-0 SLC) orchestrated a valiant recovery en route to a furious rally across the final four innings of play against in-state rival Louisiana (10-8, 0-0 Sun Belt), nearly managing to complete the comeback before falling by a final 9-8 decision to the Ragin' Cajuns on Tuesday evening at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field.

A combination of ace pitching and early offense initially boosted visiting Louisiana ahead by an 8-3 margin through the five frames of action, scoring in every inning save the first and containing the Red & Gray attack to minor mistakes (reach-on-error and sac fly in the third along with an advance on a balk in the fifth).

A major shift in the game, however, came in the sixth, as the Nicholls bullpen suddenly began shutting down the Ragin' Cajun bats, surrendering just one run for the remainder of the contest; meanwhile, the Colonel offense heated up with a run of their own in the sixth before four more crossed home plate later in the eighth, closing the gap to just one before the Louisiana pitching staff stifled the rally to wrap up the ninth.
 
KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
-- With the loss, the Colonels fall back to just below .500 (7-8) while Louisiana breaks a five-game losing skid and improves to a 10-8 overall mark on the year.
-- Notably, both pitching staffs were granted opportunities to flesh out their depth, tossing seven men each throughout the contest. For the Colonels, the top performers came nearer the close of the matchup, as seniors Colin Kramer, Peter Holland and Beau Balado combined for 4.2 innings of action -- gave up two runs on four hits while setting down four batters on strikes -- before junior Joe Taylor notched another solid conclusion, striking out three across the final frame with no runs scored on zero hits.
-- After sitting out the early portion of the season due to a minor injury, freshman LHP Luke Barbier posted his collegiate debut in the midweek clash, taking over on the mound for some early relief. All-in-all, the local Morgan City product put together a decent first outing for the Red & Gray, striking out one across 1.0 frame of work while giving up just two runs on four hits.
-- Offensively, senior Greg Anderberg registered a memorable showing behind his eighth-inning three-RBI triple, initially pushing across both senior captain Dillon Belle as well as freshman transfer Basiel Williams before coasting on home himself due to a throwing error ricocheting outside the field of play (awards an automatic advance). Williams also put together a solid performance, picking up a pair of RBIs on two hits, while both sophomores Xane Washington and Austin Cain collected an RBI apiece as well.
 
UP NEXT
With the midweek clash against the Ragin' Cajuns concluded, the Red & Gray hit the road for their first away series of Southland play at Abilene Christian, trekking across state lines to face the Wildcats in a four-game set slated Friday, Mar. 19 through Sunday, Mar. 21.

STAY SOCIAL
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