BILOXI, MS – The Nicholls State University baseball team was beaten 4-0 by the No. 12 ranked University of Southern Miss as part of the 2026 Whitney Hancock Classic at Kesler Federal Ballpark on Tuesday night.
Nicholls (11-12) was stifled by the Southern Miss (17-4) pitching staff as they recorded four hits matching its second lowest total this season. The Colonels' pitching staff only allowed five hits, but the defense committed three errors leading to multiple Golden Eagle runs.
The Colonels' offense showed life early as
Keegan Giger and
Matt Melancon recorded consecutive singles to begin the first inning. After they were left stranded, USM recorded two hits of their own in the bottom of the first.
Starting pitcher
Dawson Richard settled in and retired six of the next seven batters until USM's Matthew Russo reached on a fielding error on the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth inning. Russo scored a few plays later via a sacrifice fly to put the Golden Eagles up 1-0.
After one Colonel was left stranded in the top of the fifth, USM extended their lead with a two out double down the right field line in the home half of the inning. Melancon recorded his second hit on the game in the sixth but was left stranded before the Golden Eagles plated their final two runs of the game on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly.
Logan Terry had the final hit of the game for the Colonels in the top of the seventh inning before the Red & Gray were retired in order the rest of the game. Terry also walked earlier in the game along with
Nico Rijo-Berger and
Andy Miller to round out the Colonels that reached base.
For the pitching staff, Richard suffered his first loss of the season after recording four strikeouts and allowing three hits and one earned run in five innings of work.
Will Mabry replaced him and allowed one hit in 1.1 frames, while
Peyton Lacy finished the game as he allowed one hit and struck out one batter in 1.2 innings of action.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will continue its road trip as they play a three-game series against UIW in San Antonio on March 20-22.