HAMMOND, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team was beaten 11-3 by McNeese State University in the first game of the Southland Conference Tournament at Pat Kenelley Diamond at Alumni Field on Thursday afternoon.
After falling behind 3-0 early, Nicholls (25-25) responded as
Keegan Giger blasted his sixth home run of the season in the second inning. However, McNeese's offense remained hot as they scored two runs on a double in the fourth and on a sacrifice fly in the fifth to put the Cowboys up 5-1.
Nicholls offense found another spark in the bottom of the fifth as
Fisher Ingersoll hit a leadoff single up. Following two fly outs
Caston Thompson hit his 14th home run of the season to cut the Colonels' deficit in half. McNeese scored five runs across the next three frames highlighted by a home run in the seventh.
The Colonels had 10 hits as Giger led the way with three hits.
Casey Artigues and Thompson added two hits apiece while
Nico Rijo-Berger,
Carter Jenkins and Ingersoll each had one to round out the offense.
For the pitching staff, starter
Haden Luke suffered his third loss of the season as he recorded three strikeouts and three walks while allowing six runs in 4.1 innings of work.
Peyton Lacy and
Kaul Perkins pitched one inning apiece while combining to allow five runs.
Cole Simoneaux picked up two strikeouts while allowing one hit while
Cannon Hensarling (1.2) and
Caleb Dyess (0.1) threw the final two frames.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will play the loser of the Southeastern vs HCU matchup on Friday, May 15 at 1 p.m.
