Baseball: UCA scores four unanswered to take opener over against Nicholls, 4-3

CONWAY, Ark. – Like in last week’s Southland Conference opening series, the Nicholls State University baseball team jumped out to an early lead in the first game, scoring three runs in the third against Central Arkansas before the Bears eventually came back and won 4-3 on a walk-off single in the ninth Friday night at Bear Stadium.

With the loss, Nicholls dropped to 10-9 overall and 2-2 in league play. UCA improved to 7-11 and 3-1.

Nicholls had seven hits in the loss, led by Dane Simon and Ethan Valdez with two each. Simon’s first hit was a run-scoring double that sparked a 3-run third inning. Dillon Belle doubled in the frame as well, driving in two.

Coming off his player of the week honor, Trever Kilcrease tossed 4.1 innings and struck out two. He allowed two earned runs, with one right after Nicholls took the 3-0 lead in the third. In the fifth, Kilcrease gave up one of his four hits of the night, then issued his fifth walk of the game. Peter Holland came in for relief but walked one with the bases loaded to make the score 3-2.

UCA scored again via a bases loaded in the sixth to tie the game. An error by Holland put the leadoff runner on, then Parker White took over on the mound and issued three consecutive walks.

Nicholls had a chance to break the tie in the ninth by putting two on with one out. Austin France singled and Valdez drew a walk, but the Bears ended the frame with two straight punchouts.

In the bottom half, the Bears were able to load the bases with one out against Brandon Andrews (0-2). A walk, intentional walk, and hit-by-pitch filled the bags before Kolby Johnson singled for the game-winning run.

Andrews totaled 2.2 innings out of the pen, allowing one hit while striking out two.

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