Nicholls strikes early, completes sweep at Southeastern

HAMMOND, La. – Nicholls’ six-run first inning proved too much for the Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team to overcome Sunday in a 10-7 loss to the Colonels in Southland Conference play at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

Southeastern (8-16, 0-3 SLC) knocked a few runs off the deficit in the second.

Shea Thomas led off the inning with a single to right field and scored on Pierce Leavengood’s double off the left-field wall. After being sacrificed to third, Leavengood scored on Connor Manola’s groundout.

Nicholls (13-9, 3-0 SLC) extended their lead in the fourth on an RBI double. On the play, right fielder Bryce Grizzaffi hooked up with Evan Keller for a relay to the plate in time to nab a second runner attempting to score.

Back-to-back home runs in the fifth pulled the Lions within two, 7-5. Keller drew a one-out walk, scoring on Tyler Finke’s second home run of the season. Preston Faulkner backed it up with a solo shot to left-center field.

Faulkner’s homer was his fifth of the season and 25th of his career, tying him for 10th on Southeastern’s all-time home run list with Justin Boudreaux and Carson Crites.

The Colonels answered immediately, hitting two of the first three pitches reliever Christian Westcott threw in the sixth out of the ballpark for solo home runs. A sac fly in the eighth put Nicholls up, 10-5.

SLU refused to go quietly, picking up a pair of runs in the ninth.

Pinch-hitter Champ Artigues drew a walk to open up the inning. One out later, Keller drew a walk. With two down, Faulkner doubled into the gap in left-center to bring home both Artigues and Keller.

Nicholls starting pitcher Nick Heckman (1-1) earned the win, allowing five runs in five innings pitched. He allowed four hits, one walk and hit a pair of batters, striking out two. Devin Desandro earned his first save of the season, recording the final out of the game. Hayden Robb (0-3) suffered the loss after being knocked out of the game in the first inning, allowing six runs – five earned – while recording one out.

Rhett Rosevear, who entered the weekend leading the nation in HBPs, was hit by a pitch in each of his first two plate appearances Sunday. He has now been hit by a pitch 17 times this season and 31 times in his career, moving him into 10th place on SLU’s all-time list and into a tie for seventh place on the program’s single-season list with Brandon Street (2009).

With the loss, the Lions have now dropped seven consecutive games. It is the program’s longest skid since losing seven-straight games near the end of the 2004 season (May 15-21).

RADIO SHOW
The next episode of Inside Southeastern Baseball with Matt Riser, presented by Pour House Pizza and Beer Garden, is slated for Monday at 12 p.m. from the restaurant in downtown Hammond. Fans can listen to every show online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via the Lions Gameday Experience, MyTuner Radio or Mixlr apps. The MyTuner Radio app is compatible with the Apple CarPlay software available in most newer automobiles.

UP NEXT
Southeastern wraps up a four-game homestand Tuesday at 6 p.m. against UL Lafayette for the annual Pack the Pat game. The first 300 SLU students through the gates will receive a free Hammond, America T-shirt and food.