Nicholls baseball dropped weekend series at home

In their first series against a Southland Conference (SLC) opponent this season, the Colonels opened with one victory, followed by two losses, against the Northwestern State University Demons at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field.

GAME RECAPS
In the series opener on Friday night, the Colonels used an explosive fifth inning to propel them to victory over the Demons in a 5-4 decision.

Although Northwestern was the first of the two teams to light up the scoreboard in the first inning, the Colonels tied the game up in the third before they brought four runners home in the fifth. A Bray Bell double allowed Lee Clark to score, and a Joey Morales triple cleared the bases.

In the ninth, a powerful, two-RBI double, hit by Demon pinch hitter Lenni Kunert, moved the score dangerously close at 5-4. The Colonels solidified the win when junior Jake Bedevian sparked a double play, after the next hit.

On the mound, senior left-handed pitcher Alex Ernestine went eight straight innings, earning seven strikeouts and giving up six hits and two earned runs. The ninth inning saw action out of the bullpen from Parker White, Austin Bollinger and Bedevian.

In the second game of the series, the Colonels took a 3-1 loss despite a strong performance by senior right-handed pitcher Cayden Hatcher, who struck out a career-high 10 batters. Like Ernestine the night before, Hatcher threw eight innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits.

The Demons plated their first runner in the first frame and their next in the third. Nicholls put their lone run on the board in the fourth after Lee Clark hit a homerun into right field.

In the rubber match against the Demons, the Colonels fell 5-3, despite maintaining the lead through the sixth inning.

Bedevian opened on the mound, and went 6.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, three strikeouts and a walk.

The Colonels scored in the third and fifth innings, but the Demons plated three runners in the seventh and one in the ninth to secure the win.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Colonels will face Purdue University tonight, Mar. 14 at 6 p.m. at The Did in their mid-week matchup.

They will trade the comfort of their home field for a three-game road series in Texas against SLC opponent, Houston Baptist University, with the first game schedule for 6 p.m. this Friday, Mar. 16.