Nicholls baseball opened its 2016 Southland Conference schedule on Friday, falling to Abeline Christian University 5-4.

The Wildcats struck first on leadoff homeruns in the second and third innings by Russel Crippen and Aaron Draper.

The two dingers were the first two of the year as a team for ACU.

Starting pitcher Justin Sinibaldi was able to escape both innings with just the one run allowed, earning three of his eight strikeouts on the night in the process.

“Justin left some balls up early then completely adjusted, I saw some pitches I haven’t seen him throw in a long time,” head coach Seth Thibodeaux said. “He sabed our bullpen for the rest of the weekend.”

After going down in order in the first and second innings, the Colonels (0-0, 0-0) got their first baserunner of the night when Alex Tucker was hit by a pitch with one out in the third. However, Wildcat starter Kyle Carrol struck out Dylan Manichia and induced an easy groundball out by leadoff hitter Ethan Valdez to end the inning.

The Wildcats threatened again in the top of the 4th, after ACU loaded the bases with one out following an infield hit, a hit-by-pitch, and an error on Manichia when he couldn’t scoop a throw by shortstop Joey Morales out the dirt. Draper then shot a pay off pitch back up the middle for a base hit, scoring two and extending the lead 4-0.
With two outs and runners on the corners, Draper stole second and was eventually tagged out by Morales, but not before Will Harris crossed the plate for the Wildcats 5th run.

“What tremendous character by our club to not give in down 5, we’ve had a tough week, ” Thibodeaux said. “We adjusted well to the pitcher and put ourselves in position to do it but just didn’t get it done.”

The Colonels did not earn their first hit of the night until the 4th inning on a high chopper to third by Justin Holt. Kyle Reese followed with a hot shot through the right side of the infield, advancing Holt to third.
However, Carroll responded with back-to-back strikeouts then got designated hitter Kyle Knauth to ground out to first base.

In the fifth, Nicholls again had runners on the corners, this time with two outs. After a double by Manichia and an error by the ACU second baseman on a routine groundball of the bat of Valdez. Holt followed by drawing a walk on a full count, loading the bases for the Colonels hottest hitter in Reese.

Reese collected his 20th and 21st RBI of the season, sending the first pitch of the at bat to left field for a base hit. Alex Shermer followed with a base hit up the middle scoring Holt for the Colonels third run.

“We just need to slow the game, sometimes we’re trying to do too much,” Thibodeaux said. “We’re in a little rut right now, but our streak is coming.”

Sinibaldi answered his offensive support by setting down the Wildcats in order for the first time in the game in the sixth.

A pair of Wildcat errors lead to Nicholls’ fourth run in the sixth. After a throwing error put Knauth on second base, with two outs Manichia hit a ball that ACU the third baseman played off his foot and ricocheted into left field, plating Knauth.

Nicholls got into the bullpen first, chasing Carrol with one out in the seventh inning. He went 6 and 1/3 innings allowing 4 runs, 2 earned, and striking out 4.

The Colonels opened the eighth inning with a base runner in scoring position after Gavin Wheby was hit by a pitch, then advanced to second base on a balk. Knauth advanced Wheby to third on a sac bunt, but with two outs Tucker’s sinking line drive was caught by a diving Hunter Markwardt in center field.

Sinibaldi went all nine innings for the Colonels allowing 5 runs, all unearned, 8 hits and striking out 8 on the night.

Nicholls faced ACU reliever Nick Palacios in the ninth down one run. Palacios struck out the side, preserving the Wildcats 5-4 win to open the series.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow night at 6 pm at “The Did.”