Thibodaux, La. – The Central Arkansas Bears and Nicholls State Colonels squared off for the second game of a three-game set on Saturday evening. The game proved to be a pitcher's duel, as the teams combined for just five runs on 16 hits, and in the end, the Colonels proved victorious, walking-off with a 3-2 victory.
Nicholls (19-18, 10-4 SLC) struck first, stringing together four straight singles to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
Central Arkansas (17-16, 7-9 SLC) evened the score in the top of the fourth, effectively playing small-ball to score a run on just one hit. Second baseman Chris Townsend opened the inning with a double to left-center field and was then sacrificed to third on a sac bunt from first baseman Scott Zimmerle. A sacrifice fly off the bat of right fielder Carson Dowdle brought Townsend in and locked the score at 1-1.
The Colonels used some small-ball of their own to re-take the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. A pair of hit batters got the inning started before a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position. A ground out to second base plated a run and gave Nicholls a 2-1 lead.
The Bears immediately, re-tying the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth. After a groundout opened the inning, Townsend picked up his second double of the day, this one to right field. Zimmerle then laced a single to left to bring the Central Arkansas second baseman in to score.
Neither team was able to break the tie in the seventh or eighth innings, and the Bears went down in order in the top of the ninth. After a line-out and a single opened the bottom of the frame, the Bears went to their bullpen. The Colonels loaded the bases with back-to-back walks, before second baseman Philp Lyons rapped a single to center field to give Nicholls the walk-off win.
Grant Borne got the start for Nicholls, lasting seven innings and allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out seven Bears. John Satriano (1-1) earned the win in relief, holding Central Arkansas hitless over the final two innings and striking out one. Chris Caudle (5-3) suffered the loss for Central Arkansas. He went 8.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out two. Connor McClain failed to record an out in the ninth, issuing two walks and giving up one hit.
Townsend was the only Bear to record multiple hits on the day, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Five Bears split the rest of Central Arkansas' hits, all
of which were singles.
The Bears and Colonels will wrap the series up tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 P.M.
