Southeastern drops Nicholls series opener in extra innings, 11-3

HAMMOND, La. – The Nicholls Colonels batted around in the 10th inning Friday on their way to an 11-3, extra-inning win over Southeastern Louisiana in Southland Conference action at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

Southeastern (26-16, 18-11 SLC) remains tied for first place in the conference standings after Central Arkansas defeated New Orleans (25-20, 20-13 SLC), 15-5.

Bryce Grizzaffi blasted the first home run of his career to put the Lions up, 2-1, in the second inning. The two-run shot to right field wiped out an early deficit.

Grizzaffi helped pad the lead in the fourth. After back-to-back walks by Preston Faulkner and Jacob Burke, Rhett Rosevear sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Faulkner eventually came home to score on Grizzaffi’s RBI groundout to third base.

Nicholls (19-25, 14-15 SLC) scratched across an unearned run in the seventh, pulling within a run.

In the eighth, reliever Cole Hoskins loaded the bases with no outs before getting a strikeout and a fielder’s choice to retire the runner at the plate. A two-out walk forced in the tying run.

The Lions had a chance to pull ahead in the eighth. Champ Artigues drew a walk and Evan Keller bunted for a base hit. Both runners advanced when the throw to first went down the right-field line. After a strikeout and an intentional walk loaded the bases, pinch-runner Nick Ray was thrown out at home attempting to score on Preston Faulkner’s fly ball to right.

After going down in order in the ninth, Nicholls sent 13 batters to the plate in the 10th while scoring eight runs off three Lion relievers.

Colonel reliever Beau Balado (4-1) earned the win, tossing three shutout innings of relief. Trey Harrington (1-1) suffered the loss, allowing four runs – three earned – in 1.1 innings pitched.

UP NEXT
The series continues Saturday with a 2 p.m. doubleheader. Senior right-hander Noah Hughes (1-3, 4.86) draws the starting assignment in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Nicholls will counter with senior right-hander Trever Kilcrease (2-6, 6.12). Freshman right-hander Brennan Stuprich (5-1, 2.50) heads to the bump for Southeastern in the second half of the doubleheader while the Colonels plan to start freshman right-hander Devin Desandro (3-2, 3.43).
Both games can be heard in the Hammond area on the flagship station of the Southeastern Sports Radio Network – KSLU 90.9 FM – in addition to online at www.LionSports.net/ListenLive and via both the Lions Gameday Experience and TuneIn Radio apps. Fans can also watch on ESPN+.

Other options to follow the action this weekend include live statistics or the @LionUpBaseball Twitter account. Links to audio, video and stats are available on the baseball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.