Nicholls clips Mississippi Valley State behind 1-0 shutout

THIBODAUX, La. — Less than 24 hours removed from the team’s best offensive performance of the year, the Nicholls State University baseball program (10-8, 1-2 SLC) returned to its usual dramatic tendencies in Wednesday afternoon’s midweek conclusion, squeezing past Mississippi Valley State (0-15, 0-6 SWAC) by a final 1-0 margin — good for the Red & Gray’s seventh win by less than three runs — at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field.

Once again, the Colonels leaned on the ever-vigiliant pitching staff throughout the tight contest, as sophomore RHP Nick Hill impressed with just two hits allowed across 5.0 scoreless innings of work, senior LHP Bryan Taylor (1-0) earned the fourth victory of his career and junior transfer LHP Joe Taylor notched his fifth save since joining the program this past fall.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
— With the victory, the Colonels improve to a double-digit win total — now 10-8 — while Mississippi Valley State remains winless with an 0-15 mark.
— For Taylor, the junior’s fifth save of the season pushes the southpaw closer into a tie for seventh nationally, not to mention second overall in the Southalnd (trails only UCA’s Conner Williams, seven saves).
— Offensively, the Red & Gray struggled to find any sort of rhythm at the plate, scoring late in the sixth on an Alec Paz double play that opened the door for Dane Simon. In total, just three Colonels collected hits on the day while only five reached first base at all.
— Notably, sophomore Xane Washington recorded a critical defensive gem to end the top of the fifth frame, acing a Delta Devil base runner at the plate behind a near-perfect throw from deep center field.

UP NEXT
With the MVSU midweek series wrapped up, the Colonels close out a five-matchup home stretch with the team’s first conference series at Didier Field, hosting Central Arkansas in a three-game set from Friday, Mar. 13 through Sunday, Mar. 15.

STAY SOCIAL
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