Late surge dooms Nicholls in SIUE rematch, 5-2

THIBODAUX, La. — In a near recreation of Friday’s season-opening loss to the same opponent, the Nicholls State University baseball program faltered in the team’s final contest of the Baseball on the Bayou Classic, surrendering a trio of ninth-inning runs to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (3-0, 0-0 OVC) as the Cougars locked up a 5-2 victory Saturday evening at Ray E. Didier Field.

After jumping out to a quick 2-0 advantage in the first inning, the Colonels (0-3, 0-0 Southland) were unable to put SIUE away late as the Cougars climbed their way back into the contest with solo runs in the second and sixth frames. In the ninth, a one-out single got things started before a Steven Pattan sacrifice fly scored the eventual game-winning run; later, a two-RBI single through the left side by Justin Ohl served as insurance as Southern Illinois-Edwardsville improved to an undefeated 3-0 record on the year.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
— The Colonels set themselves up in a strong opening position behind a solid first frame, as a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and walk, in succession, served as the Red & Gray’s only RBIs of the night.
— On the mound, Nicholls starter Nick Heckman composed a solid six innings of work, surrendering two runs on eight hits while retiring six batters on strikes with no walks. Fellow sophomore Tyler Theriot took over to open the seventh, tossing two-and-two-thirds innings with three runs allowed on five hits before senior Peter Holland wrapped up the final out of the evening.

UP NEXT
After closing out the season-opening tournament, the Red & Gray must quickly shift focus to inarguably their toughest non-conference test of the season: vs. No. 11 LSU, first pitch set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Ray E. Didier Field.

STAY SOCIAL
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