THIBODAUX, La.– Colonels right-hander Trever Kilcrease cruised through 8.1 innings with 14 strikeouts and looked poised to no-hit the Privateers. However, the University of New Orleans (9-3, 1-0 Southland) was able to spoil the shutout bid with three runs in the ninth to take the Southland Conference opener 3-2 over Nicholls State University (7-8, 0-1 Southland) Friday evening at Didier Field.
A one-out walk and wild pitch allowed Salo Iza to move into scoring position and the second baseman came around to score on Collin Morrill's single. Nicholls made a pitching change looking to preserve its lead but a Pearce Howard ground-rule double put the go-ahead run on second base.
After inducing a grounder for the second out of the inning, Beau Balado was ahead 1-2 on Tresten Kennard before the outfielder roped a single to right to put the Privateers ahead 3-2.
Reeves Martin entered the game in the ninth and shut the door with three strikeouts for his fourth save of the season to give the Blue and Silver the one-run edge in game No. 1 of the conference slate.
Southpaw Brandon Mitchell held the Colonels to two runs over 6.0 innings and kept the Privateers within striking distance in the no-decision. Mathew Oset continued his sensational season with 2.0 scoreless frames and earned the win, improving to 2-0 on the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Nicholls took a 1-0 lead in the first on two hits, but Mitchell regrouped, collecting six consecutive outs before NSU was able to get another baserunner on.
In the fourth, the Colonels tacked on another run for a 2-0 lead for Kilcrease, who looked dominant heading into the final frame with 13 strikeouts and 101 pitches. The walk/wild pitch that put Iza on second marked the first time in the ballgame that UNO had a runner reach scoring position and the second baseman came around to score on Morrill's single.
Moments later, Howard's double and the intentional walk to Luther Woullard loaded the bases. Nicholls got the lead runner out on the very next play, and Kennard followed with a two-out single to give UNO the first of three regular season ballgames versus the Colonels.
WIN-LOSS RECORD
Oset (2-0) was credited with the win in 2.0 scoreless frames out of the pen. Martin collected his fourth save in as many tries. Balado (1-1) was charged with the loss as the game-winning run was charged to the lefty.
Mitchell went a season-high 6.0 innings in his second start of the season. Kilcrease officially went 8.1 with 14 strikeouts, but two of the three ninth-inning runs were charged to the right-hander.
INSIDE THE BOX
The Privateers remain patient at the plate, upping their season total to 75 walks with tonight's four base on balls. Oset now has 16 strikeouts in 13.2 innings and a 0.66 ERA, while limiting opponents to a .128 batting average. Martin has nine punchouts in 6.2 frames and a 1.35 ERA. His 16 career saves are second most in program history and the right-hander is just two away from tying Ryan O'Shea for most stops by a Privateer.
Head coach Blake Dean is now one win away from 100. In his fourth season as the skipper, Dean is 99-89-1.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will look to take the series on Saturday, first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Chris Turpin (2-0, 1.53 ERA) will get the start for New Orleans and right-hander Jacob Bedevian (2-0, 2.95) is expected to get the nod for Nicholls.
Game Notes: http://unoprivateers.com/sports/2018/2/15/baseball-game-notes.aspx?path=baseball
Live Stats: https://geauxcolonels.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Audio: http://unoprivateers.com/watch/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/user/nichollsathletics
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