THIBODAUX, La. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears saw an 8-2 lead disappear Sunday as the Nicholls State Colonels rallied for an 11-8 victory in Southland Conference baseball action at Didier Field.
The Bears (18-18, 8-10), who won the series 2-1, jumped ahead 8-2 after scoring a run in the third inning, three in the fourth and four more in the fifth. But the Colonels (17-19, 7-11) scored nine runs over the final five innings to avoid the series sweep.
Nicholls went up 1-0 in the first but UCA tied the game with a single run in the third on Jonathan Davis’ sacrifice fly. The Colonels re-took the lead with a run in the bottom of the third but the Bears put up three in the fourth. Logan Moon doubled and Blake Roberts moved him to third with a single.
Travis Snider’s sacrifice fly scored Moon and Kyle Prevett followed with a two-run double to left center for a 4-2 lead. UCA put up four more in the fifth as Davis had an infield single and stole second base. Jonathan Houston walked and moved to second on a wild pitch before Bryan Willson’s sacrifice fly brought in Davis.
Moon came through with an RBI single up the middle that chased Nicholls starter Mike Wisecarver. Roberts reached on a fielding error by shortstop Chase Jaramillo and Snider was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Zack Dickson had an RBI base hit to score Moon and Prevett’s sacrifice fly scored Roberts.
The Colonels got four runs back in the fifth to make it 8-6, another in the sixth for an 8-7 deficit, then took the lead for good with a four-run eighth. Three of the runs were charged to UCA reliever Blake Payne, who entered in the seventh and stranded two Nicholls runners. Evan Cox got the final two outs but also allowed a run.
Dickson and Prevett both went 2 for 3, with Prevett getting 3 RBI and Dickson scoring twice. Moon also had a pair of hits and scored two runs. Nicholls designated hitter Jeremy Hill finished 4 for 6. Dylan DeLaune (3-2) got the win, with Payne (3-4) taking the loss.
UCA plays at UALR at 6 p.m. Tuesday and at UAPB at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
