Box score

THIBODAUX, La. – Nicholls State scored seven unanswered runs to knock off University of South Alabama baseball 11-2 Tuesday at Ray E. Didier Field.

NSU (6-3) plated four runs in the seventh inning and tacked on three runs in the eighth to secure its sixth win of the season and second over a Sun Belt Conference opponent.

The Colonels jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Jason Dennis and a two-run single by Austin Flores.

Logan Kirkland cut the Nicholls State lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth inning when he singled to shallow center field to score Tilur Smith and Taylor White.

But the Colonels answered in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead when Jeremy Hill singled through the right side to score Chase Jaramillo, who tripled to right-center field with two outs in the inning on the first pitch he saw from Jaguar right-hander Carlton Paris.

Flores started the Colonels seventh-inning rally with a double to left-center field. NSU then loaded the bases before Jeremy Hill singled to center field to score pinch-runner Ray Eureste and give the Colonels a 5-2 lead. Blake Bergeron followed with a single through the right side of the infield that plated Michael LeGrange. First baseman Beau Faulk then reached on a swinging-bunt single to third that scored Jaramillo, pushing the NSU lead to 7-2. The Colonels pushed across the final run of the inning when Scott Moseley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, giving Nicholls State an 8-2 lead.

In the eighth inning, NSU scored three runs on just one hit to extend its lead to 11-2.

Nicholls State left-hander Mike Wisecarver (2-0) earned the win in five innings, and allowed two unearned runs on six hits while striking out six Jaguar batters without issuing a walk.

Paris (0-1) sufffered the loss in his first career start, allowing four runs on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks in 4 2/3 innings.

Jaguar relievers allowed seven runs, five of which were earned, in 3 1/3 innings.

NSU relievers allowed just one hit in the game’s final four innings without allowing a run. The Colonels struck out 10 Jaguars in the game and issued just one walk.

Kirkland went 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead South Alabama at the plate. Tilur Smith went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Taylor White finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and one stolen base.

Hill went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored to lead the Colonels at the plate. Jaramillo went 2-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored, and Flores went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.

“Nicholls State just outplayed us,” South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell said. “They came out and jumped on top with timely hitting; they got the hits when they had to have them and we just couldn’t seem to get anything going. Our hitters just have to do a better job. We are striking out too much and when you do that, you don’t put any pressure on the defense. We just didn’t have a good night tonight, and we have to go out west and try to get it changed.”

South Alabama (5-3) will return to action Fri., March 4, at 2 p.m. (CT) when it takes on Minnesota in the first game of the Dairy Queen Classic at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz.k

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

-USA-

NOTES:  South Alabama fell to 29-13 all-time against Nicholls State with the loss … The Jaguars have dropped two consecutive games to the Colonels … Kirkland extended his hitting streak to eight games, and recorded his team-leading fourth multiple-hit game … Smith recorded his first hit as a Jaguar in the second inning, and recorded his first multiple-hit game as a Jaguar.