RUSTON, La. - The Nicholls State University baseball team outhit Louisiana Tech 11-6 and jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but two home runs lifted the Bulldogs to a 3-2 win Saturday afternoon at JC Love Field.
Edgar Alvarez drove in a pair for Nicholls (3-4) on a base in the second inning. Louisiana Tech (4-2) answered in the fourth with homers by Philip Matulia and Jorge Corona to take the lead.
Nicholls threatened to tie or take the lead in the eighth and ninth innings with one-out rallies but stranded a total of four runners.
Austin Cain and
Garrett Felix both singled in the eighth before being left on base. Then in the ninth,
Parker Coddou walked and
Wes Toups singled, and both moved into scoring position via a balk. However, Ethan Bates got a flyout and lineout to pick up the save.
Hitters 1 through 7 in the Colonel lineup each had a hit.
Xane Washington, Cain and Felix finished with two apiece. Washington had the lone extra-base hit with a double in the first inning.
Devin Desandro took the loss, allowing three earned runs on six hits in 4.1 innings. Four of his hits surrendered came in the decisive fourth inning.
Chase Gearing had a strong outing out of the bullpen, striking out three in 3.2 hitless innings.
ON DECK
Nicholls will look to avoid a sweep in the Sunday finale. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
