HOUSTON, Texas –The Nicholls State University baseball team was beaten 5-4 by the University of Houston at Schroeder Park on Tuesday night.
The Colonels entered the final stanza down one run. Designated hitter
MaCrae Kendrick tied the game (4-4) with a solo home run while facing a full count to begin the frame. In the home half of the inning, with two down and the bases loaded, Cary Arbolida hit a fly ball to center field that the Colonels were unable to catch to allow the winning run to score from third.
The Colonels' built momentum early with an eventful opening frame at the plate. First,
Gerardo Villarreal hit a sacrifice fly that plated
Parker Coddou who began the game with a walk.
Basiel Williams' run scoring base knock brought
Edgar Alvarez home after he had the Colonels' first hit of the game.
After a scoreless second inning, Alvarez blasted a home run over the center field wall on the third pitch of the third frame to put the Red & Gray up 3-0.
Starting pitcher
Sam Hill struck out three batters and allowed one hit which was a solo home run by Connor Bennett in the fifth. The Cougars took a 4-3 lead on an Ace Reese three run home run in the sixth.
The Colonels tallied 10 hits with Alvarez leading the way with three,
Garrett Felix and
Cade Crosby had two apiece, and Villarreal, Williams, and Kendrick each had one. Relief pitcher
Chase Richter suffers his first loss of the season after allowing three hits and one run in 2.1 innings of work.
ON DECK
The Red & Gray (30-18, 12-6 SLC) will host league leading Lamar in three game series that begins at Ray E. Didier Field on Friday, May 10.
