Tonight’s game in Thibodaux had everything you’d expect: offense, sloppy defense, some fireworks, and a dramatic walk-off to win. The only issue is the walk-off didn’t go the Cajuns way. Nicholls scores 3 in the first and then single runs in the 3rd, 8th, and 9th to defeat Louisiana, 6-5 at Ray Didier Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Jaden Collura opened the scoring for the Colonels in the first when he singled to center, scoring Alvarez and Washington. A few batters later, Kody O’Connor would single home Collura and give Nicholls the early 3-0 advantage. Cajuns would trim the lead to two in the 2nd on a Carson Roccaforte home run to right field.
As the game went into the 3rd, Nicholls continued the offensive dominance as Edgar Alvarez hit a deep fly to left center to get that run back and make it 4-1 Colonels.
In the 6th, Kyle DeBarge finally got the home-run monkey off his back for the Cajuns, launching one down the left field line, and it was now a 4-2 ballgame.
The final two innings of this contest is when things really start heating up. It all starts with Julian Brock hitting a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Max Marusak and make it a one-run game. Nicholls would later answer in their half of the 8th with a single to center by Alec Paz to score Alvarez.
In the 9th, Cajuns have two runners on with nobody out. Jonathan Brandon lays down a bunt, pitcher goes to third to get the lead runner and sails it. Louisiana would score off the error to bring it back to 5-4. The very next batter was Brock, who tattooed one to the wall in right. The ball was caught by Xane Washington, but it was plenty deep enough to get Tyler Robertson home and tie the game at 5-5.
However, in the bottom half of the 9th, Louisiana would walk a batter, hit a batter, and commit a fielding error to load the bases. Then it was Edgar Alvarez who would deliver the final blow, hitting a grounder to the shortstop that would score the winning run as Nicholls defeats Louisiana 6-5.
BIG NUMBER: 11
Louisiana struck out 11 times in the contest while only striking out seven Colonels. Cajuns also committed two errors and left 6 men on base.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: EDGAR ALVAREZ
Alvarez was the difference maker tonight in this game, hitting a home run and then hitting the walk-off fielder’s choice to give Nicholls the victory. Alvarez went 2-for-4 with 1 single, 1 home run, 2 RBIs and 3 runs.
UP NEXT: Louisiana (9-11) will return to ML Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park for a weekend series with South Alabama. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Friday.