Nicholls defeated No. 13 Southern Mississippi in a mid-week matchup at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi (8-5) March 25.

Neither team scored a run in the first two innings until the top of the third inning when Colonels’ junior shortstop Andy Miller hit his first home run of the season to take a 1-0 lead over the Golden Eagles. 

Miller ended the night with three hits, two runs and one home run in four at-bats. Miller said even he was shocked, watching the ball go over the wall for the first time.

“I didn’t think I hit a home run,” Miller said. “I rounded first base and thought I flew out. The left fielder turned, and I just thought, ‘oh wow, I hit that out. ’ It’s pretty special.”

In the bottom of the third inning with one out, Golden Eagles’ Jake Cook grounded to shortstop Andy Miller, who threw the ball to second basemen AJ Cappel, and then to first basemen

Aaron Biediger to secure the double play, retiring the side.

Miller hit an RBI single to right center, allowing Carter Jenkins to take home and give the Colonels a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning.

Southern Miss responded with a two-run home run of their own in the bottom of the Fourth. Golden Eagles’ first basemen Mathew Russo hit his sixth home run of the season to tie the game at 2-2. 

The Colonels subbed in Jordan Harper for starting pitcher Dalton Hill, ending Hill’s night with three hits, two runs, three walks and one home run allowed on 58 pitches in 3.1 innings pitched.

The scoring continued for both sides, Nicholls scoring one run in the fifth and sixth innings inning and Southern Miss scoring two runs in the fourth and one run in the sixth, the last run coming on

Russo’s second home run of the game, marking his third game of the season with at least two home runs. 

The Colonels entered the seventh inning with a 4-3 lead over the Golden Eagles.

Colonels pinch hitter Narvin Booker Jr. singled to second base off a bunt in the seventh inning, advancing Biediger to second and catcher Jaden Collura home. Noah Detiller then reached on a throwing error, advancing to second and allowing Biediger to score. 

Booker Jr. scored off a ground out RBI by Carter Jenkins and the inning resulted in the Colonels scoring four runs to take an 8-3 lead. 

Booker Jr. said the win meant a lot for him after Nicholls lost on a walk-off home run against Southern Miss last season.

“[It] means a lot for the team and for myself,” Booker Jr. said. “I had to take some time away from the team two weeks ago. The team had my back, and I worked my way back into the lineup.”

The win marks head coach Brent Haring’s first win against a ranked opponent as the Colonels’ coach and their first win against a ranked opponent since 2023 when they defeated No. 1 LSU in Baton Rouge. 

Coach Haring said he is proud of the team and gave high praise to multiple players, including Booker Jr. and Miller.

The Colonels look ahead to an in-state conference matchup against Northwestern State University in Natchitoches on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.