THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team plated four runs in the eighth inning, but its comeback effort fell two runs short in its 7-5 loss to the University of South Alabama at Ray E. Didier Field on Tuesday night.
 
After falling behind 7-1 after seven frames, Nicholls '(0-4) offense exploded for four runs on four hits in the eighth inning. Hudson Mattox got the action going with a lead off walk before Casey Artigues hit a one out single to right field. Following a pitching change, Jaxon Milam earned an eight pitch, full count walk to load the bases.
 
Next, Clayton Pourciau plated Mattox with his second RBI of the game. Following a strikeout, Keegan Giger cleared the bases with a three-run base knock to left field to bring the Colonels within two. Carter Jenkins and Artigues reached in the ninth inning but were left stranded to end the contest.
 
The Colonels offense tallied nine hits with Pourciau leading the way with three while Artigues added two. Greyson Shafer, Caston Thompson, Will Mabry and Giger tallied one hit apiece. Thompson and Mattox had two free passes apiece while Artigues and Milam each had one.
 
The Red & Gray pitching staff totaled 11 strikeouts as starting pitcher Shaydon Benson led the way with five punch outs in 4.1 innings of work. Peyton Lacy struck out three batters in 1.1 frames, while Owen Schexnaydre had one strikeout while also pitching 1.1 innings. Kaul Perkins and Dalton Hill allowed no hits in the final two stanzas of the game.
 
UP NEXT
Nicholls will hit the road to face LSU inside Alex Box Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. The Colonels will return home to host the University of Tennessee – Martin in a four-game series on Feb. 20-22.