Nunez, John Melvin end season series with doubleheader split

CHALMETTE, La. – Ira Austin pitched 5 solid innings, and Dorien Jackson, Colin Cure, and James Bendeck each drove in a pair of runs to lead  Nunez Community College to a 6-2 victory in Game 2 and a split of Sunday’s twin-bill with John Melvin University at Suarez Stadium.

In the opener, the Millers took advantage of timely hitting, and right-hander Garrett Walker turned in a huge relief effort in the sixth inning, as JMU prevailed by a score of 7-3.

GAME 1 –  JOHN MELVIN 7  NUNEZ 3 (7 innings)

The visitors from Crowley opened the scoring with a run in the top-of the first as Connor Pleasant led off the game with a double and later scored on Kade Massey’s sacrifice fly.  The Millers then added another run the next inning on a single, a pair of runner-advancing groundouts, and another single.

Trailing 2-0, the Pels got one back in the bottom-of-the-third as Noah Detillier plated Ben Harris all the way from first with a line double into the left-center gap.

But the Millers responded with 5 runs in the fourth on a walk, single, sacrifice bunt, and Pleasant’s timely 2-out single for a 4-1 lead, and then stretched it to 7-1 the same inning after a walk, hit batter, and 2 more singles plated 3 more runs.

Nunez managed one run in the fifth as Sully Stringer led off with a line drive down the right-field line for a double, and then was singled to third by Bendeck, and tagged and scored on Jackson’s sacrifice fly to center.

Then came a key moment in the game as the Pelicans loaded the bases with none out on consecutive singles from Cure, Roth John, and Evan Rohlfs.  The Millers then turned to Walker who proceeded to strikeout the next 3 batters to shut off the rally.

The Pels scored a final run in the bottom of the seventh as Harris reached on catcher’s interference, stole second and third, and scored on Cure’s groundout.

      Score By innings – Sun  4/21 Game 1                

      John Melvin –  110 500 0  –   7  11  1 
                 Nunez –  001 010 1  –   3  10  0

                  Ford, Walker (6), Flynn (7) and Durr. 
              Woodard, Bordes (4), Dearing (7) and Rohlfs.
                 W – Ford.   L – Woodard.   H – Walker
   2B – Pleasant, Detillier 2, Jackson, Stringer.
                SF – Massey, Jackson         

GAME 2 –  NUNEZ 6  JOHN MELVIN 2  (7 innings)

The Millers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Pleasant led off with a single, moved to third on a walk and groundout, and raced home on a wild pitch.

But the Pelicans grabbed their first lead of the afternoon in the bottom half as Cure hammered a first-pitch 2-out homer into a stiff wind blowing in from left field to also plate Jackson who had led off the inning with a single.

Nunez then added a run in the third as Cohen Veron led off with a double high off the centerfield screen that just missed getting out.  Two outs later, Bendeck plated Veron with a timely line-drive single to center.

With Austin holding firm on the mound, the Pels got the Rummel right-hander two more runs in the fourth on a walk to Stringer, singles by Alex Roux and Bendeck, and Jackson’s hard-ground double inside the first base bag that rolled down into the right field corner for a 5-1 lead after five.

Drama then ensued as the Millers put up a huge threat in the top-of-the sixth as they loaded the bases with none out on 3 walks.  Closer Andre Roux was next called in from the bullpen for the Pelicans at this point, and with the tying run at the plate, pitched the Pels out of trouble with just a lone run on a groundout and a pair of strikeouts.

Nunez got that run back in the bottom half on Jackson’s clutch 2-out single that plated Alex Roux who had earlier walked and stole second.

Andre Roux then struck out the side in the seventh around a walk and Pleasant’s second 2 bagger of the day to register his third save in the last four games.

Austin finished his day by going 5.0 innings, yielding just 3 hits and those 2 runs, while striking out eight to pick up the win.

     Score By innings – Sun  4/21 Game 2               

      John Melvin –   100 001 0  –  2   4  0

                 Nunez –  210 201 x   –  6   9  1

 Blanchard, Guidry (4), O’quinn (6) and Ougel.

       Austin, Adr Roux (6) and Cure.  

   W – Austin.  L – Blanchard.   S – Adr Roux.

         2B – Pleasant, Jackson, Veron.    

                            HR – Cure.

Jackson led the Pels offensively, going 4-for 7 on the afternoon with a pair of doubles and 3 RBI’s.  Bendeck chipped in with a 3-for 6 day that included 2 RBI’s, and Detliier also went 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles and an RBI.

For JMU, Pleasant led the way by going 5-for 8 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI’s.

The teams completed the 10-game season series by each winning 5 games,

NEXT UP:

The Pels will jump right back into action this Monday, April 22 as they will travel to Pineville for a twin bill against Louisiana Christian University.  First pitch from Billy Allgood Field will be 3 PM.