NICHOLLS STATE DOWNS LSUS
March 24, 2005
THIBODAUX, La. – Sophomore Ray Labat pitched 4.0 scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win and lead Nicholls State past LSU-Shreveport 4-1 in non-conference baseball action held at Ray E. Didier Field on Wednesday.
With the win the Colonels pull off the two-game sweep and improve their record to 12-10 while the Pilots fell to 23-7 with the loss.
Nicholls State took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first inning when junior Tim Daigle reached on an error and came around to score on an infield groundout by junior Jose Higuera.
LSU-Shreveport knotted the game at 1-1 in the top half of the third inning when Dustin Bissinnette led off by drawing a walk and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Magierowski.
The Colonels offense came alive in the bottom half of the sixth inning by scoring three runs to take a 4-1 lead, which proved to be enough.
Senior Bubba Bell led off the inning with a single to left field and Higuera followed single to right field, which advanced Bell to third. On the very next pitch, Pilots pitcher Kevin Jewell was called for a balk, which allowed Bell to score and advanced Higuera to second. Following a sacrifice bunt by junior Michael Muscato, which advanced Higuera to third, junior Manny Davila came through with an RBI single to the left side scoring Higuera to give the Colonels a 3-1 lead. The Colonels took a 4-1 lead when senior Josh Thomas delivered a two-out RBI single up the middle scoring Davila.
Labat (2-2) picked up the win tossing 4.0 scoreless innings and gave up only two hits and fanned three.
Nicholls State starter Justin Breaux tossed 5.0 innings and gave up only one hit, one unearned run, walked three and struck out three, but was factored in with a no decision.
Kevin Jewell (6-1) received the loss after tossing 4.0 innings and giving up five hits, three runs, walked one and struck out three.
Thomas went 3-for-3 with two doubles to lead the Colonels at the plate while Chase Cox went 1-for-3 to lead the Pilots at the plate.
