NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Nicholls State University baseball team outhit Northwestern State, 11-6, but the Colonels stranded a total of 16 base runners as the Demons took the opener, 4-2, on Friday night at Brown-Stroud Field.
Xane Washington continued his terror at the plate with another two-hit outing, extending his hitting streak to 16 games. He tripled and scored the Colonels' first run in the fifth to make the deficit 3-1.
Nicholls (23-17, 8-5 SLC) added another run in the seventh but would leave the bases loaded. The Colonels then stranded two in the eighth and ninth innings in the defeat.
Along with Washington, a total of five Colonels had two-hit games --
Gerardo Villarreal,
Austin Cain,
MaCrae Kendrick and
Wes Toups. Kendrick and Toups each recorded a double.
Devin Desandro was tagged with the loss, allowing three runs in the first two innings. He totaled 4.1 innings with four earned runs on six hits, struck out two and walked three.
Gavin Galy had a strong showing out of the bullpen with 3.1 hitless shutout innings and added three strikeouts.
For NSU (22-17, 8-5 SLC), Cal Carver earned the win in 6.1 innings, allowing nine hits while striking out six. Michael Dattalo had two hits for the Demons including an RBI double in the first.
ON DECK
Nicholls and NSU will play Game 2 on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
