MOBILE, Ala. — Nicholls State scored three runs in the first inning and Brandon Jackson made the lead hold up Tuesday night as the Colonels beat South Alabama baseball 4-1 at Eddie Stanky Field.
Jackson allowed one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking two to earn his first win of the season.
Colonels Strike Early
Nicholls State opened the scoring in the top of the first inning on a two-out, two-run triple to left-center field. One batter later, an RBI single to left made it 3-0.
The Colonels added a fourth run in the top of the third on a two-out RBI single through the left side.
South Alabama starter Andrew Fonzi took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits in three innings with two strikeouts and two walks.
Jaguars Bullpen Shuts the Door
After Fonzi’s exit, the South Alabama bullpen did not allow another run. Hunter Soleymani, James Traylor and Brandon Boyle combined for six scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out seven.
Limited Chances at the Plate
Jackson held the Jaguars without a hit until the bottom of the fifth, when Whitt Dorsey singled. Dorsey moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt, and South Alabama later loaded the bases in the inning, but Jackson worked out of the jam without allowing a run.
The Jaguars loaded the bases again with no outs in the bottom of the seventh on three straight singles. Hayden Jones followed with a sacrifice fly for South Alabama’s only run.
Nicholls State relievers Marc Picciola and Jordan McCoy combined to cover the final 2 2/3 innings, each allowing one hit. Picciola struck out three.
- Brandon Jackson (W): 6 1/3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K
- Andrew Fonzi (L): 3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 2 K
- Soleymani, Traylor, Boyle: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 7 K combined
Road Trip to Arkansas State
South Alabama travels to Jonesboro, Ark., this weekend for a Sun Belt Conference series at Arkansas State. Friday’s opener is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Entering the Game
South Alabama came into Tuesday’s game with a 24-9 record. The Jaguars had won two of three games against FIU the previous weekend after a loss to No. 17 Mississippi State the week before.
The start was Fonzi’s fourth of the season. He had allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his first three starts, with eight strikeouts and four walks in 12 innings.
Nicholls State arrived in Mobile at 15-18, having lost three straight after being swept by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and six of its last seven games.
South Alabama entered the game leading the Sun Belt Conference in runs scored (233), RBI (207), hit by pitch (41) and sacrifice flies (19), and was tied with Louisiana-Lafayette for the league lead with 335 hits.
