THIBODAUX, La. — South Alabama baseball scored three runs in the first inning Wednesday night, but Nicholls State answered with 15 runs on 16 hits to beat the Jaguars 15-4.
The Colonels outscored South Alabama 12-1 over the final seven innings. The loss dropped the Jaguars to 15-17 on the season, while Nicholls State improved to 17-18.
Three-Run Start for the Jaguars
Adam Ballew and Cameron Cummings opened the game with back-to-back singles, and Cole Gleason walked to load the bases with nobody out. Hayden Jones singled to left to score Ballew, and Matt Wojciechowski’s sacrifice fly to center brought home Cummings for a 2-0 lead. Justin Cullifer later added a one-out RBI single to left, making it 3-0.
Colonels Respond
Nicholls State matched that total in the bottom of the first. Keith Cormier hit a one-out, two-run home run, and a sacrifice fly tied the game 3-3.
Tyler Duplantis put the Colonels in front 4-3 with an RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom of the third. Nicholls State then broke the game open with six runs in the fourth inning and added three more in the eighth.
Cormier Leads Nicholls State
Cormier finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, three RBI and three runs scored. Duplantis went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
- Keith Cormier: 4-for-5, 2 doubles, HR, 3 RBI, 3 runs
- Tyler Duplantis: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 runs
Arkansas State Up Next
South Alabama returns home this weekend to host Arkansas State in a Sun Belt Conference series at Eddie Stanky Field in Mobile. The opener is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Pregame Background
South Alabama entered the game 15-16 after ending a five-game losing streak the previous weekend at Texas State, where the Jaguars won the opener and took the series 2-1 in San Marcos. Nicholls State came in at 16-18 after losing four of its previous five games, including two of three against Northwestern State.
Left-hander Jared Gates (1-3) made his seventh start of the season for South Alabama. In four night starts before Wednesday, Gates was 1-2 with a 0.74 ERA, 18 strikeouts and nine walks in 24 1/3 innings, holding opponents to a .138 batting average. Nicholls State started right-hander Ryan Deemes (1-2).
