THIBODAUX, La. -- Highlighted by a three-run homer from Austin Cain and reinforced by a lethal performance out of starter Nick Heckman, the Nicholls State University baseball program (20-27, 15-17 SLC) successfully completed a critical rally against rival Southeastern Louisiana (28-17, 20-12 SLC) in a well-pitched series finale, clipping the league-leading Lions by a 4-2 mark to ensure an even 2-2 split of the four-game weekend set Sunday afternoon at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field.

Save for a quartet of singles resulting in a pair of SLU runs in the fourth, Heckman proved nigh unstoppable on the mound throughout the rivalry clash, setting down five batters on strikes through 8.2 hard-fought innings. The Red & Gray offense, however, took some time to warm up, eventually finding a workable rhythm midway through the fifth frame as freshman Wes Toups initially put the Colonels on the board behind a sacrifice fly before Cain blasted his game-winning three-run shot -- his second of the season -- over the left-field wall.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
-- With the victory, the Colonels improve to 20-27 overall for the season along with a 15-17 mark in Southland competition; meanwhile, Southeastern Louisiana falls to 28-17 on the year with a 20-12 record in league play.
-- Despite a stellar overall outing, Heckman got into some late trouble in the ninth due to back-to-back hit-by-pitches, resulting in a short call to the bullpen for closer Joe Taylor; the junior promptly took care of business, inducing a groundout to the shortstop en route to his 10th save of the year.
-- Outside of Cain, who finished with two hits and three RBIs on the day, junior Dane Simon also composed a solid showing at the plate, wrapping up the day with two hits of his own along with one run scored for the Colonels.
 
ON DECK
With the Southeastern Louisiana series officially completed, the Colonels turn their attention to the team's final roadtrip of the campaign, trekking west to Lake Charles, La. for a four-game set against in-state rival McNeese slated for Friday, May 14 through Sunday, May 16.

STAY SOCIAL
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