Box score
MOBILE, Ala. – Nicholls State scored five unanswered runs in the final three innings to knock off University of South Alabama baseball 8-4 Wednesday at Stanky Field.
NSU (7-6) held a one-run lead heading into the top of the ninth inning, and scored three runs in their final at-bat on an RBI single by Mike Barba, RBI triple by Jeremy Hill and a Jaguar error.
Michael Suk (3-0) earned the win in 2 1/3 shutout innings in relief with a pair of strikeouts and two walks. Payton Gardner (0-2) suffered the loss in 1/3 of an inning, allowing two runs on one hit with one strikeout.
The Jags loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the first on a walk by Nolan Earley, single by Nick Zaharion and hit by pitch to Jordan Patterson. Earley then scored the game’s first run on a wild pitch by NSU starter Kory Delange.
The Jags doubled their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the second on another wild pitch from Delange that scored Brent Mitchell, who reached on a hit by pitch earlier in the inning.
NSU cut the USA lead to 2-1 in the top of the third on an RBI single to right field by Phillip Lyons, and tied the game one batter later when Hill reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Matt Richard, who singled earlier in the frame.
The Colonels threatened in the top of the fourth with two runners in scoring position with one out. But a failed suicide squeeze cost a second out, and Buhrkuhl struck out Vargas to end the inning.
USA took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single to shortstop by Mitchell that scored Brad Hook, who led off the inning with a walk. Whitt Dorsey also scored on the play due to a throwing error by Colonel shortstop Leo Vargas.
The Jags loaded the bases in the top of the fifth on a walk by Earley, and two consecutive catcher interference calls that allowed Zaharion and Hook to reach. But Suk recorded a strikeout and inning-ending groundout to end the threat.
NSU loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh and scored the inning’s first run on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Richard. A double steal later in the inning plated the Colonels’ second run of the inning to give them a 5-4 lead.
Barba went 2-for-2 with a double, one RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base to lead Nicholls State at the plate. Hill and Richard added a hit and two RBI apiece.
Zaharion went 2-for-4 to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Mitchell added a hit, one RBI and a run scored, and Dorsey finished with one hit and one run scored.
South Alabama (4-9) will return to action this weekend when it travels to Jacksonville, Fla., for a three-game series with North Florida.
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: USA set season highs in stolen bases (4) and walks (8) … Earley extended his on-base streak to 21 games … Patterson’s hit streak was snapped at nine games … Patterson and Zaharion both extended their on-base streaks to 10 games … Buhrkuhl recorded his first quality start of the season.
