MONROE, La. -- Following a highly-competitive weekend of play, the Nicholls State University baseball program (3-7, 0-0 SLC) came up just short in the series-deciding rubber match against in-state opponent ULM (5-3, 0-0 Sun Belt), rallying back from an initial four-run deficit before the Warhawks eventually squeezed out a 6-4 victory early Sunday afternoon at Warhawk Field in Monroe, La.
Unlike either of Saturday's doubleheader matchups, Louisiana-Monroe was first to rustle up some offense as the Warhawks tacked on a solo homer in the second before growing their lead to a 4-0 margin behind a trio of scores to close out the fourth. Just a half-frame later, though, the Colonels responded in full force, as a pair of RBI singles from Erick Hernandez and Greg Anderberg collected three runs before a ULM error allowed Wes Toups to knot the score at four apiece. The Warhawks gathered their offense quickly, however, as they plated a decisive two scores on a Red & Gray error and RBI groundout en route to securing the series win.
KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
-- With the loss, the Colonels move to a 3-7 mark on the year while ULM improves to 5-3 overall.
-- Sophomore Nick Heckman pushed through the first 3.1 innings in his third start of the season, punching out one while surrendering four runs on eight hits. In relief, freshman Devin Desandro (1-1) earned the loss on just 1.0 frame of work, striking out one while giving up a pair of runs on zero hits. Fellow freshman Nico Saltaformaggio shut things down with a couple goose eggs through 1.1 innings on the mound, setting up veterans Tyler Theriot, Peter Holland and Beau Balado to wrap up the contest with no runs allowed on just two total hits across the final 2.1 frames.
-- Anderberg concluded his breakout series with another pair of RBIs, bolstering his total for the weekend up to four, while Hernandez notched just his second RBI of the season. Meanwhile, sophomore transfer Kyle Boudreaux put in a solid effort in his first start of the 2021 campaign, posting two hits on the day.
UP NEXT
With the four-game roadtrip concluded, the Red & Gray shift focus to the team's Southland Conference opening series this upcoming weekend, hosting Stephen F. Austin in a four-contest set Friday, Mar. 12 through Sunday, Mar. 14 at Ray E. Didier Field.
STAY SOCIAL
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