THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team defeated new Southland Conference foe, Stephen F. Austin 5-3 on Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field on Thursday night.
 
Following two scoreless frames from starting pitchers Nuno Parache and Cody Templeton, both teams scored one run apiece in the third.  Nicholls' (14-24, 7-15 SLC) leadoff batter Karson Irvin showed off his speed by legging out a triple on the third innings opening pitch. Next, Chase Jans walked before Irvin scored on a fielder's choice to tie the game at 1.
 
The Colonels kept the momentum rolling as they scored four runs on six hits in the ensuing frame. Carter Jenkins had a leadoff single before three consecutive one out singles from Fisher Ingersoll, A.J. Cappell and Irvin to give the Colonels a 3-1 advantage. Following a strikeout, Jaden Collura picked up his second RBI of the game with a base knock to left field. Irvin scored on the next play as Aaron Biediger singled to left field.
 
The teams went scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings before the Lumberjacks score two in the seventh on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly. Parache earned his third victory of the season after allowing three runs and fanning three in six full frames. Harper Jordan took over in the seventh and allowed three hits and tallied three strikeouts enroute to his second save of the season.
 
ON DECK
Game two of the series will be on April 18 at 6 p.m.