THIBODAUX, La. - After McNeese started the 10th inning with a solo home run,
Jaden Collura laced a 2-run single for a walk-off victory as the Nicholls State University baseball team defeated the Cowboys, 8-7, in the series finale Sunday on Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field.
The win snapped a six-game drought for Nicholls (15-11, 4-2 SLC) in the series and also prevented a sweep at home for the first time since May of 2016. The loss dropped McNeese to 15-13 and 3-3 in the Southland.
Kade Morris got just enough of an 0-1 pitch for a solo shot to right that gave McNeese a brief 7-6 lead in the extra frame. The Cowboys handed the ball over to the league's leader in saves, Cameron Foster, but
Edgar Alvarez greeted him with a bloop single to left to start off the Colonel tenth.
Alec Paz, who homered twice in the game, was pitched around for a walk and
Garrett Felix followed with a perfect sacrifice bunt.
With the tying and winning runners in scoring position and first base open, McNeese intentionally walked
Hunter LeBlanc to load the bases. Collura then came through with a base hit to left center and pinch-runner
Jordan Thompson scored from second, beating the throw home for the walk-off win.
Xane Washington extended his hitting streak to seven with three hits and nearly robbed Morris of his homer in the extra inning. He was also a foot short of his own homer in the first that resulted in a double, but he scored on Paz' first of two long balls for a 2-0 lead. Paz homered in the sixth to put Nicholls ahead 4-3.
McNeese grabbed the advantage in the seventh with a pair of runs, but the Colonels immediately answered in the bottom half. Alvarez walked with the bases loaded then a wild pitch made it 6-5 Colonels.
In the eighth, Morris and Payton Harden doubled for the Cowboys to tie the game but an outstanding play by Washington prevented any further damage. With the bases loaded ane one out, Washington caught a fly ball on the run and fired a strike home to throw out Harden at the plate.
Neither team put a runner on in the ninth to force the extra inning.
Brandon Andrews earned the win out of the bullpen, tossing 0.2 innings with one strikeout.
Nick Heckman started and allowed three earned runs on four hits in 4.1 innings.
Devin Desandro tossed 3.0 innings of relief as he and Heckman both fanned three batters.
ON DECK
Nicholls will host Jackson State on Wednesday, April 6 with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
