Photo by: Timmy Seiler

Basiel Williams [#7] beginning his swing in a game against Lamar (5/11).

Nico Saltaformagio pitched 2⅓ innings in his second save of the season and Basiel Williams hit two RBIs in Nicholls’ 4-3 win over McNeese State University on Thursday.

The save is Saltaformaggio’s second of the season. He has pitched 8⅓ consecutive shutout innings after relieving Michael Quevedo in the fourth inning of Sunday’s win against Lamar

“I just wanted to make sure I did my job out there and picked up my teammates,” Saltaformaggio said. “I’m just doing my job and executing[…] but it’s a team effort, I can’t take all the credit.”

Saltaformaggio faced adversity in the eighth inning after loading bases but responded, ending the inning with consecutive outs.

“I thought a couple of those pitches were strikes and I thought [Saltaformaggio] earned them, but that’s how it goes sometimes, you don’t get every call,” Nicholls Head Coach Mike Silva said. “[Saltaformaggio] is a veteran player who has been there before, emotionally staying engaged and executing pitches and the outcome went in our favor.”

Outfielder Basiel Williams drove in two of the Colonels’ four runs and recorded a hit on three of four at-bats in the win.

“It feels good, but it feels even better when the team’s clicking and we get the win,” Williams said. “I’m not really worried about myself.”

The Colonels split their four runs between the first two innings, scoring two in each.

Williams drove in two RBIs on a double in the first inning, scoring Edgar Alvarez and Gerardo Villarreal.

Drake Anderson scored after Kaden Amundson grounded out to first in the second inning.

Parker Coddou hit the second RBI of the inning, driving in MaCrae Kendrick for the Colonel’s final run.

Nicholls’ starting pitcher Jacob Mayers gave up a three-run home run in the fifth inning that let McNeese within one run.

“One swing of the bat changes the score, but besides that [Mayers] didn’t hurt us at all,” Silva said.

Saltaformaggio said the team is happy to have all their goals in front of them.

“We play here to win championships and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re just going to keep playing and if it doesn’t go our way [this series] we’ll be ready for next week,” Saltaformaggio said.

Next Up

The Colonels continue their series against McNeese on Friday at 6:30 p.m. weather permitting.

The game is streaming on ESPN+.