Thanks to a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning by senior third baseman Jake Ritchie, the Colonels baseball team defeated Southern University 14-5 in non-conference baseball action on Sunday afternoon in Baton Rouge.B.D. Parker, Colonels head baseball coach, said the win is a big one for the team after the weekend series split against Montevallo.
“It was a big win for us because we beat a quality opponent on the road, and it has been a long time since Nicholls has won at Southern University,” Parker said. “We were in a situation where we have been inconsistent with our play. Friday night, we played well and then we played poor on Saturday. To come out Sunday and put together a solid game, that is credit to our players.”
For the contest, the Colonels (5-4) scored 14 runs on 15 hits and didn’t commit an error. Southern (2-2) scored five runs on seven hits and committed one error.
Throughout the first three innings, both teams struggled offensively and could not produce a run.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Colonels offense exploded at the plate by getting six runs to give the Colonels a 6-0 lead.
At the bottom of the sixth, Southern was able to produce a run but still trailed 6-1.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Colonels extended their lead by three runs to take a 9-1 lead.
After Southern added another run in the bottom of the eighth inning to close the gap to 9-2, the Colonels put the game out of reach when Ritchie hit a three-run home-run to give the Colonels a 14-2 lead.
Southern attempted a comeback in the ninth inning by scoring three runs, but fell short after three outs.
Junior pitcher Robbie Hebert (1-0) picked up his first win of the season by going seven and a half innings. He surrendered two hits and one run. He also struck out seven and didn’t allow a run.
Parker said he is happy that Hebert pitched a good game and that the defense stood strong behind him.
“Robbie Hebert was outstanding,” Parker said. “He had a perfect game for five innings, and he really set the tone for us for the day. Our defense was outstanding behind him.”
Parker said he commends the Colonels pitching coach Gerald Cassard for the effective play of the pitchers.
“Our pitching staff is coming along,” Parker said. “Coach Cassard does a great job with those guys. They understand what they need to do, and now is a matter of getting them the repetitions that they need in order to go out and do it on a consistent basis.”
Parker said the team’s defense kept it in the game and the late offensive explosion won the game for the Colonels.
“That is what kept us in the game until we had an opportunity to bust things open. They started wearing down, and their pitchers started pitching down and we had some pitches to hit,” Parker said. “We got some of those balls out of the park. It was just a good day for us.”
With the current weather conditions, Parker said the lack of practice time hurt the Colonels defensively.
“We shot ourselves in the foot defensively a few times, and I credit some of that to the weather we have been having,” Parker said. “We just have not been able to get the field down like we need. Practice is very important to us, and I think that once we get a chance to get some field work, we have a chance to have a good club.”
Parker said the Colonels upcoming stretch of games will be difficult. The Colonels will play Troy State, Samford and Northwestern State in Dothan, Ala., this weekend. On March 10, the Colonels will play a make-up away game against Louisiana-Lafayette, and on the weekend of March 10-12, the Colonels travel to face the University of Mississippi.
“We have a tough schedule coming up,” Parker said. “That will only help us become a better team come conference time.
The Colonels’ next home game at Didier Field will be on March 17 against Loyola University.
