BEAUMONT, Texas - The Nicholls State University baseball team totaled 11 hits and the pitching staff combined for a shutout in the final seven innings as the Colonels claimed their second Southland Conference road series in as many weekends with a 4-2 victory at Lamar on Sunday afternoon.
With the game tied at 2-2, Nicholls used two singles in the sixth and seventh innings to manufacture a run in each frame. Then on the mound, the combination of
Chase Gearing and
Cade Evans were lights out coming out of the bullpen as they did not let a Cardinal reach base for the rest of the game.
Nicholls improved to 17-13 overall and 4-2 in the Southland with the victory, while Lamar slipped to 17-10 overall and 3-3. The Colonels will play their first SLC home series this coming weekend, starting Thursday, April 6.
On offense, Nicholls received two-hit efforts from
Edgar Alvarez,
Gerardo Villarreal,
Garrett Felix and
MaCrae Kendrick. Felix and Kendrick both singled in the second inning, leading to an RBI fielder's choice by
Kaden Amundson. The next run scored after
Hunter LeBlanc singled and an error allowed Amundson to come home.
Lamar tagged Colonel starter
Jacob Mayers for three hits in the bottom half of the inning and also scored their second run via an error. Mayers allowed a single in each of the next three innings but kept LU off the scoreboard.
In the sixth, Villarreal and Felix reached on base hits and Kendrick loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. Amundson followed with another RBI on a fielder's choice for a 3-2 Colonel lead.
Mayers retired the first batter in the sixth before exiting the game. He finished his outing with four strikeouts, three walks and allowed one earned run on six hits. Gearing subbed in and got the final two outs of the inning.
The Colonels added to their lead on an RBI groundout by Villarreal in the seventh, then Gearing struck out the side in the bottom half. Evans took over in the eighth and sat down all six batters for the two-inning save. The trio of pitchers combined to retire the final 13 Cardinals.
Lamar was limited to six hits with Ben MacNaughton leading the offense with two hits. All 17 hits for both teams were singles.
ON DECK
Nicholls will head to LSU on Tuesday to play the nationally-ranked Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
