LAFAYETTE, La. - The Nicholls State University baseball team jumped out to an early lead against Louisiana thanks to senior
Dane Simon's solo home run, but the Ragin' Cajuns pieced together a four-run sixth and went on to split the season series with the Colonels with a 6-1 victory Tuesday night at Russo Park.
Nicholls wrapped up the regular season with a 25-23 overall record, which included a 6-5 win over Louisiana (31-20) earlier this season. The Colonels will now shift their focus to the Southland Conference Tournament, which opens Thursday, May 19 in Lake Charles.
After being responsible for the walk-off single in Saturday's win over Southeastern, Simon added his first homer of the season with a shot to left field in the third inning. The Colonels used a pitcher-by-committee approach in the finale and kept the Cajuns off the board through the first five innings. But a Heath Hood double in the sixth gave UL the lead for good before Wil Veillon hit his first of two homers on the night to cap the four-run inning.
The Colonels had just one other hit for the game as
Austin Trahan singled to lead off the eighth. He was doubled up on a grounder before Veillon belted a two-run homer in the bottom half for the final runs of the game.
In the ninth,
Edgar Alvarez drew a one-out walk, but UL ended the game with another double play.
Gavin Galy took the loss with three earned runs on two hits in 0.1 innings.
Bradley Ely made the start and threw two shutout innings, and
Nick Hill followed with two more. In the fifth,
Mason Turner struck out all three Cajuns he faced.
Chipper Menard notched the victory with 4.0 innings of relief.
ON DECK
Nicholls will take on No. 5 Northwestern State on Thursday in Lake Charles. First pitch at Joe Miller Ballpark is scheduled for 1 p.m.
