HAMMOND, La. - Hunter LeBlanc came through with a bases loaded, two-out, pinch-hit double to cap a five-run ninth as the Nicholls State University baseball team rallied to take its Southland Conference opener at Southeastern, 6-4, Friday night at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
Facing a 4-1 deficit in the final inning, Nicholls (11-9, 1-0 SLC) took advantage of three walks and a hit-by-pitch to set up the game-winning hit. With the bags full and one down,
Edgar Alvarez kept the inning alive by beating out a potential double play, driving in a run to make it 4-2.
Alec Paz was then hit by a pitch and
Jaden Collura followed with a walk for an RBI. LeBlanc subbed in and drove an 0-1 pitch in the left center gap to clear the bases for a three-run double and a 6-4 Colonel lead.
The drama continued into the bottom half as Southeastern (8-14, 0-1 SLC) put its first two runners on via a single and a hit-by-pitch.
Cade Evans took over on the mound and retired the next batter on a sacrifice bunt. On the first pitch to SLU's Evan Keller, Parker Codduo caught a hard liner at short and easily doubled up the Lions by stepping on second to end the game.
Nicholls outhit SLU, 9-8, with two hits coming from the first two batters.
Garrett Felix led the game off with a triple to center and scored on a
Xane Washington single to center.
Colonel starter
Tyler Theriot ran into trouble in the third, surrendering three hits and a pair of free passes as SLU took a 3-1 lead. After Tyler Finke had an RBI single, Preston Faulkner doubled with the bases loaded for three RBIs.
The Colonels loaded the bases in the fourth and sixth innings, but were unable to cut into the lead until the decisive ninth inning.
Felix posted a three-hit outing to lead the offense while
Jayden Kay added two hits. Washington and
Dane Simon each singled and walked twice.
Theriot lasted 6.1 innings with four earned runs on six hits.
Brandon Andrews tossed 1.2 innings for the win while Evans notched his fourth save of the season.
Gage Trahan suffered the loss in relief, allowing two earned runs in 0.2 innings.
ON DECK
Nicholls will attempt to clinch the series on Saturday with
Chase Gearing set to make the start. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
