Nicholls baseball takes sixth straight loss after weekend tournament

The Nicholls State University baseball team was unable to find success over the weekend in Pensacola, FL, where they faced Ohio State University, Eastern Michigan University and the University of Southern Mississippi in the Cox Diamond Invitational at the Blue Wahoos Stadium.

GAME RECAPS
In the first game of the tournament, the Colonels fell to the Buckeyes 6-3. Nicholls put the first point on the board in the first inning on a Kyle Knauth RBI single that plated Ethan Valdez.

A strong fifth inning allowed the Buckeyes to get a 5-1 lead over Nicholls, and the Colonels did not score again until the seventh and eighth innings. Knauth scored in the seventh on a groundout from freshman Dane Simon, before he hit a home run in the eighth to lock the final score in at 6-3.

Against Eastern Michigan, Nicholls could not hold onto their 5-3 after the Swoops tied things up in the ninth, and an extra inning ensued. In the 10th inning, the Swoops scored six runs, while the Colonels committed four errors. This resulted in an 11-5 loss for Nicholls. The Colonels scored one run in the first frame and four in the sixth, after Chet Niehaus hit one out of the park, when the bases were loaded.

In the third game of the weekend, the Colonels were defeated by Southern Miss 20-4, which was a season-high for runs scored by the Golden Eagles. Nicholls did not get on the board until the seventh inning, where they recorded four hits and three runs.

Their fourth and final run was scored in the next inning, off a sacrifice fly. In the second inning, the Golden Eagles knocked out an impressive six hits and brought home eight runners, while the Colonels recorded one throwing error in the frame.

CONFERENCE COMPETITION
Despite the Colonels’ 1-10 overall record, they have barely skimmed the surface of the long season ahead. With 56 total games scheduled, and 30 of those games being against Southland Conference (SLC) opponents, Nicholls still has plenty of time to turn their season around and leave the rough start in the past.

The Colonels are slated to begin conference play against the Northwestern State University Demons this weekend at Ray E. Didier Field at Ben Meyer Diamond, after they face Sacred Heart University for a mid-week series this Tuesday and Wednesday at home.

From this point on in their schedule, the Colonels will be preparing to play in a weekend series against SLC competitors, and will play in mid-week games against non-conference matchups.