SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Another three-homer day for the Nicholls State University baseball team helped build a five-run lead against UIW, but the Colonels had to hold off a late rally by the Cardinals to secure the weekend series with an 8-7 victory Sunday afternoon at Sullivan Field.
The win improved the Colonels' record to 22-15 overall and 9-6 in the Southland. After the weekend's results, Nicholls and McNeese are tied for first place in the standings with three league series remaining.
Edgar Alvarez was responsible for two of the home runs in Sunday's win, hitting solo shots in the first and fifth innings.
Garrett Felix followed in the fifth with a solo home run that put Nicholls ahead 6-3. The Colonels finished with 14 hits in the game and were led by Alvarez,
Dane Simon and
Jaden Collura with three each.
Nicholls added two more runs in the sixth which turned out to be much needed. Simon drove in a run on a single and Alvarez recorded his third RBI on a fielder's choice.
In the eighth, UIW (16-20, 6-9 SLC) rallied with four runs.
Chase Gearing took over on the mound with the bases loaded and no outs, but was able to keep the Cardinals from making it a one-run game.
But in the final frame, Gearing worked around a one-out infield single to pick up the save. After a stolen base, he tallied a strikeout to keep the runner on second and then a liner to Felix at second ended the game. The save was Gearing's third of the season.
Nico Saltaformaggio picked up the win, scattering five hits while striking out three.
Nick Heckman made the start, lasting 3.2 innings with three earned as well. He allowed a 2-run homer to Grant Smith in the third as part of a three-run frame for UIW.
Aaron Celestino was charged with the loss in 1.2 innings of work. With Nicholls up early after Alvarez' first home run, the Colonels added to the lead with two runs in the second. Simon gave Nicholls a 3-1 advantage with an RBI single. In the third,
Austin Cain added to the lead with a run-scoring single.
ON DECK
Nicholls returns home for a three-game series against New Orleans, starting Friday, April 29 with a 6 p.m. first pitch. Friday's game will be the team's annual Pink Game, sponsored by Thibodaux Regional Cancer Institute.
