Box Score UNO-Nicholls Box Score
THIBODAUX, La. – A five-run deficit proved too much to overcome for the University of New Orleans in a 6-4 loss to Nicholls State on Tuesday night.
A week after rallying from five-runs down entering the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings in the previous meeting between the teams, UNO (9-10) could only get within two runs of the hosts.
Trailing 6-1 after five innings, the Privateers posted three runs on the board in the sixth.
A bases loaded walk issued to
Jonathan Coco scored one run before Steffan Farrell plated
Beau Boudreaux and
Clint Coleman on a two-run single to left field. The hit was part of a 2-for-4 performance for Farrell in the contest.
Within two runs of NSU (12-9), the Privateers would be kept in the game by the efforts of relief pitcher
Kyle Zara, who did not allow a single run to the Colonels over the final three innings.
UNO had chances in their final two at-bats to close the gap and potentially take the lead.
In the eighth inning, the Privateers loaded the bases with one out before NSU relief pitcher Donnie White prevented any damage by retiring the next two batters he faced on strikeouts.
An inning later, UNO put two on against closer Jordan McCoy with two outs before he induced a game-ending groundout. The save was McCoy's sixth of the season.
The Colonels' Merrick Ardoin (1-0) picked up the win with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief and benefited from the early scoring.
NSU scored a run apiece in the second and third inning a two-run fourth inning ended the evening for UNO starter
Jake Fabre (3-3). Fabre had pitched 3.1 innings before being lifted, yielding four runs – three earned – on six hits while striking out two.
NSU added two more in the fifth to stake to the 6-1 lead. UNO's lone tally prior to the three-run sixth came in the fourth when Coleman singled in
Cameron Wheeless. Coleman, along with Boudreaux and Simon joined Farrell with two hits in the contest for the Privateers.
The Colonels were led by Blake Bergeron, who was 3-for-4 with three runs. Matt Richard and David Zorn added two hits apiece.
UNO will get three days away from competition before resuming their 2012 season at Maestri Field over the weekend against West Georgia. The Privateers and UWG will play a Saturday doubleheader at 2 p.m. before a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
