THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team fell 7-5 in 10 innings to Northwestern State University on Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field on Friday night.
 
While trailing 5-3 in the eighth inning, Cade Crosby blasted a two-run home run to right field to tie the game. However, in the 10th the Demons' Balin Valentine hit a two-run homer of his own to left field to regain the lead. The Colonels were unable to score in the final frame.
 
Northwestern State built their lead with a pair of solo home runs by Clay Jung and Daniel Burroway of off starting pitcher Jacob Mayers who lasted 3.1 innings with four earned runs and five walks. In the fourth, the Demons added a two run double off Nico Saltaformaggio to go up 4-0.
 
The Red & Gray responded by registering their first hit of the game, which was a 414 ft. solo home run by Edgar Alvarez to leadoff the home half of the fourth. After hitting a double to left field, Gerardo Villarreal scored on a MaCrae Kendrick sacrifice fly. Kaden Amundson began the fifth with a single and later scored on a Villarreal sacrifice fly to put the Colonels down 4-3.
 
Hayden Knotts homered down the left field line in the sixth. The teams played a scoreless seventh frame to set up Crosby's tying homer. Saltaformaggio struck out seven, allowed four hits, and one run in 4.1 innings of action. Gavin Galy (1-1) picks up his first loss of the season after allowing two hits and two runs in 2.1 innings.

ON DECK
Game two of the series will be on Saturday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m.