NATCHITOCHES, La. -- Following a rough defensive performance during Saturday's twin bill, the Nicholls State University baseball program (16-23, 11-13 SLC) erased the team's concerns on the mound as the Red & Gray contained Northwestern State (21-17, 15-9 SLC) throughout a hard-fought Sunday doubleheader, initially surrendering a 3-2 walk-off victory to the Demons before dropping a pitcher's duel by a 2-1 mark in the weekend finale at Brown-Stroud Stadium in Natchitoches, La.

The opening seven-inning contest saw the Colonels jump on top of NSU early on, picking up a 1-0 advantage behind a Kyle Boudreaux RBI single in the first frame before Justin Ory doubled the edge on a passed ball in the fourth. Later, in the bottom half of the frame, the Demons rallied back with a two-run homer, knotting the contest till back-to-back-to-back singles in the seventh clinched the 3-2 walk-off victory for Northwestern State.

The second contest quickly evolved into a pitcher's duel, as each staff held the matchup scoreless till the Demons jumped ahead with two runs deep into the seventh inning. Despite freshman Caleb Hill jacking the first home run of his young career, a solo shot over the right-field wall, Nicholls failed to overcome the deficit, falling by a final 2-1 margin as Northwestern State secured the series sweep.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
-- With the pair of losses, the Colonels fall to 16-23 overall for the season along with a 11-13 mark in Southland competition; meanwhile, Northwestern State improves to a 21-17 mark on the year with a 15-9 record in league play.
-- Freshman Devin Desandro posted another strong start on the mound during game three, giving up just two runs on three hits while notching just one strikeout through 4.0 innings. Out of the bullpen, senior Beau Balado (2-1) was saddled with the loss after tossing 2.1 frames, walking the leadoff batter in the seventh before reliever Joe Taylor gave up three consecutive singles to wrap up the contest.
-- The finale featured a career-first start for sophomore Josh Mancuso (0-1) as the transfer impressed through 6.1 frames on the rubber, surrendering just one run on five hits while collecting four strikeouts. In relief, junior Cade Evans and Balado wrapped up the seventh inning with one run allowed on no hits before Taylor closed out the final inning with no runs given up on no hits along one batter set down on strikes.
-- Offensively, Boudreaux notched a solid outing during the day's opener, chipping in two hits with one RBI and one walk. During the finale, both sophomore Xane Washington and freshman Wes Toups each contributed a hit in addition to Hill's solo home run.
 
UP NEXT
With the eight-game road trek wrapped up at Northwestern State, the Red & Gray return home for a key series against UIW this upcoming weekend, hosting the Cardinals from Friday, Apr. 30 through Sunday, May 2 at Ray E. Didier Field.

STAY SOCIAL
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