THIBODAUX, La. - A wild pitch by Penn in the eighth inning decided the game as the Nicholls State University baseball team defeated the Quakers, 3-2, in the opening matchup of a two-game series Tuesday night on Ben Meyer Diamond at Didier Field. 

The teams battled to a 2-2 after just three innings before Nicholls scored the go-ahead run in their final at-bat. Parker Coddou lofted a triple to left center with two out before scoring on a wild pitch for the 3-2 lead.

In the top of the ninth, Chase Gearing retired the first two batters before issuing a walk. An error put the tying runner on second but Gearing ended the game with a strikeout to earn the save.

Nicholls had six hits in the victory with Coddou and Xane Washington each tallying two. Austin Cain and Wes Toups also singled for the Colonels.

Penn (2-5) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on a towering home run to left Ben Miller. Starting pitcher Gavin Galy had a one-out error before Miller gave the Quakers an early advantage with his homer. Galy struck out the side and added another in the second in 2.0 innings of work.

The Colonels immediately answered with a Cain RBI single that plated Washington. Then in the third, Cain walked and moved to third on a groundout and a wild pitch. Kaden Amundson followed with an chopper to third and Penn went home to try to get the runner but the throw was off, tying the game at 2-2.

Over the next four innings, both teams put at least one runner on in each frame but neither could crack the scoring column. Josh Mancuso helped limit Penn in his appearance, strikeout out four in his two hitless innings of work.

ON DECK
Nicholls and Penn wrap up the series on Wednesday night with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.