A reported 3,698 came out to the No. 5 ranked Tigers’ first trip to Raymond E. Didier field since ’05. Despite scoring two runs in the ninth and equaling LSU in total hits, the Colonel (4-6) never lead in the ball game.

The Tigers turned two sacrifice flies and three Colonel errors into five runs, while Nicholls left seven of their eight runners left on base in scoring position.

“We made about 12 or 13 mistakes tonight,” head coach Seth Thibodeaux said. “We gift wrapped 6 runs for our opponent, and maybe at the end we’re walking them off there.”

Starting pitcher Jake Smith opened the game issuing back-to-back walks. After a single by Beau Jordan advanced the runners one base, twin brother Bryce Jordan cleared the bags with a line drive triple to right field. Two batters later, Greg Deichman flied out to deep centerfield, scoring base runner Jordan from third.

Nicholls answered back in the bottom of the first, leadoff hitter Ethan Valdez earned a walk off of starter Austin Bain. After Valdez stole second, Joey Morales followed with a single to left field advancing Valdez to third. With 17 runs batted in heading into the game, Kyle Reese continued to swing a hot bat with a fielder’s choice groundout to second, scoring Valdez and earning him RBI number 18.
The Colonel’s threat was cut short when Reese was doubled up at first on a hit and run attempt when Alex Shermer’s line drive was snared by third baseman O’Neil Lochridge and tossed back across the diamond for the third out.

“We gotta make sure we sure up our defense moving forward, and quit spotting the other team opportunities,” Thibodeaux said. “We had good at-bats all night, we just didn’t have a timely hit early.”

The Colonels threatened after back-to-back two out hits by Gavin Wheby and Justin Holt put runners on the corners. After Holt stole second, Alex Tucker smashed a ball in the hole between the shortstop and third baseman which hit Holt in mid stride. Holt was called out by runner’s interference, ending the inning.

The Colonels again had runners at second and third with two outs in their half of the fifth inning, this time with Reese at the plate. But relief pitcher Alden Cartwright got Reese to pop out to right field. The Colonels struck back in the eighth after a double by Shermer and an RBI single by pinch hitter Dylan Manichia.

With a 9-2 LSU lead heading into the ninth, the fans that stuck around in attendance saw the Colonels mount a two run comeback; including Reese collect his nineteenth RBI and hit of the season.

The Colonels will begin Southland Conference play this weekend as they host Abilene Christian University for three games: Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.