HAMMOND, La. -- Despite trailing by two entering the final three frames of the tight series opener, the Nicholls State University baseball program (19-25, 14-15 SLC) decisively engineered a comeback to force extra innings before chipping in eight runs -- the team's most offensively productive sequence of the season -- throughout an explosive 10th, toppling rival Southeastern Louisiana (26-16, 18-11 SLC) via an 11-3 final mark Friday evening at Alumni Field in Hammond, La.

Entering the seventh, sophomore Austin Cain apparently shouldered the two-run deficit all to himself, as the JUCO transfer initially found home plate on a wild pitch later in the frame before earning an RBI walk to close out an exciting eighth, knotting the score at three-all and forcing extra innings. The remainder of the Red & Gray lineup -- highlighted specifically by senior Dillon Belle and his four RBIs -- took over in the 10th, as the Colonels pounded out eight runs on seven hits to clinch the series opener of the rivalry series.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
-- With the win, the Colonels improve to 19-25 overall for the season along with a 14-15 mark in Southland competition; meanwhile, Southeastern Louisiana falls to 26-16 on the year with an 18-11 record in league play.
-- On the mound, sophomore Chase Gearing impressed across 7.0 solid innings of work, surrendering just three runs on four hits while setting down a pair on strikeouts. Out of the pen, senior Beau Balado posted arguably his most dominant outing of the year, battling through 3.0 full frames with no runs given up on zero hits; notably, the southpaw narrowly navigated his way out of trouble when he took over in a nearly-disastrous eighth, striking out one with two runners in scoring position before outfielder Dane Simon ousted a pair on a fly-out double play.
-- Offensively, the Colonels concluded the series opener boasting a highly-efficient 11 runs on 11 hits while striking out just three times as a group. Individually, Belle notched a breakout effort with four RBIs coming on three hits, including a decisive two-RBI double to secure the initial advantage for Nicholls in the 10th. Meanwhile, sophomore Xane Washington finished with two RBIs on a pair of hits while freshmen Wes Toups and Parker Coddou chipped in one of each as well.
 
ON DECK
With the rivalry weekend off to a hot start, the Red & Gray aim to carry the team's early momentum into Saturday afternoon's doubleheader clash with Southeastern Louisiana, first pitch slated for 2 p.m. at Alumni Field.

STAY SOCIAL
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