THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team led early against McNeese, but the Cowboys used a big second inning and late insurance runs to take an 11-4 victory Saturday night at Ray E. Didier Field.

The loss dropped Nicholls to 4-8 overall and 0-2 in the Southland. McNeese evened its record at 5-5 while improving to 2-0 in the SLC.

Keegan Giger had a solid day at the plate for the Colonels, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Caston Thompson also had a multi-hit day and drove in two.

McNeese struck first in the opening frame, capitalizing on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead but the Colonels answered immediately in the bottom half. Giger crossed the plate on an RBI single to right center from Thompson, tying the game at 1-1. Will Mabry then delivered another RBI single to right center, bringing home Casey Artigues and giving Nicholls a 2-1 advantage.

The Cowboys responded with a four-run second inning to swing the momentum. McNeese tied the game on a wild pitch, then added RBI singles from Danny Barbero and Marcus Heusohn to take a 5-2 lead. Barbero tallied four of McNeese's 12 hits on the night.

McNeese continued to add on in the middle innings. An RBI single in the fourth and a sacrifice fly in the fifth stretched the lead to 7-2.

Nicholls trimmed the deficit in the sixth. Giger came through again with an RBI single through the right side, scoring Mabry and making it 7-3.

The Cowboys created separation in the seventh inning, plating three runs which included an RBI double to left center by Easton Dowell.

In the ninth, Thompson roped a double down the right field line to score Giger and cap the scoring at 11-4.

Austin Vargas took the loss with five earned runs in 1.2 innings. Dawson Richard tossed 4.1 innings out of the bullpen, striking out four while allowing seven hits.  Eric Nachtsheim struck out nine batters for McNeese in 6.0 innings of work.

ON DECK
Nicholls and McNeese conclude the series Sunday at 2 p.m. at Ray E. Didier Field.