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May 23, 2017
BY CASEY GISCLAIR
casey@rushing-media.com
It had to feel something like déjà vu for the Nicholls State University baseball team this weekend in Central Arkansas.
For the second-straight season, the Colonels entered the final weekend needing a strong performance to make the Southland Conference Tournament.
But for the second-straight season, Nicholls fell just a win short, ultimately seeing their season end short of their postseason goals.
The Colonels lost both games in a Friday double-header, which ended the team’s conference season with an even 15-15 record.
Even with the setbacks, the Colonels had chances to back-door into the tournament, but all those doors slammed shut when UNO swept Northwestern State and Lamar took a game from McNeese – losses which ended the team’s season.
Attempts to reach Colonels coach Seth Thibodeaux were unsuccessful at press-time – likely because of the team’s lengthy travels back home from Central Arkansas.
But he said earlier in the season that the team’s annual goal is postseason – something the 2017 team ultimately fell short of.
“We want to be that club which always competes in those types of games that matter at the end of the season,” Thibodeaux said during non-conference play. “We want to have a great regular season – a team which competes and grinds every day. We want to compile as many wins as we can and be that club that maybe before long can be in the discussion for an at-large seat at the table if it doesn’t go our way in those postseason tournaments.”
But it didn’t end that way this year for the Colonels, though they competed like heck for all three games against the Bears.
The series started on the right foot on Thursday night with the Colonels securing a dominant 5-0 win – one of the best games the team played all season.
In what will now be the final start of senior Cole Stapler’s career, the lefty pitcher was outstanding, tossing a complete game shutout while allowing just four hits.
That dominance from Stapler took pressure off Nicholls’ offense and allowed the Colonels to peck away a few runs here and there to control the game.
Nicholls scored single runs in the first, third and fourth innings to take a 3-0 lead. They put it out of reach in the seventh inning with a two-run rally, which was capped by a two-run home run from Gavin Wehby.
“I think we had the grit and the grind tonight,” Thibodeaux said. “I feel like their arm is a good arm, but I felt like our guys were the hunters tonight. We were very aggressive and we understood our roles. Cole Stapler set the tone of the game early on and we made some beautiful plays defensively.”
Stapler got stronger as the game went on, allowing just two hits over the final three innings.
He said he knew it was a game of significance, and he wanted to perform for his team.
“I just wanted to come out and give a quality start for the guys,” he said.
The next day, the Colonels didn’t quite have as much luck.
The teams played a doubleheader on Friday, accelerating the series schedule because of rain, which was forecast throughout the day on Saturday.
In both games, Nicholls wasted three-run leads – an enigma which cost the team its season.
In game one, the Colonels were behind 3-0 early, but battled back with six-straight runs to take a 6-3 advantage into the bottom of the fifth inning.
But the Bears battled back, scoring one in the fifth, then three in the sixth to re-take the lead and earn a 7-6 win, which set the stage for a must-win game in the nightcap.
In that game, Nicholls led again, taking a 3-0 advantage into the bottom of the third inning before squandering it all when the Bears scored one in the third, then three in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead.
The Colonels tied the game in the top of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from Quade Smith, but the Bears re-took the lead in the eighth inning, plating an RBI single off reliever Kyle Craft.
Nicholls frantically tried to battle back in the ninth.
Smith drew a leadoff walk, then got all the way to third base with two outs with Wehby at the plate.
The hot Colonels hitter ran the count full, but then struck out, which ended the game and the team’s season.
The series marked the final time eight seniors will suit up for Nicholls – a group which consists of Smith, Stapler, Mike Hanchar and other ever-day players.
But Nicholls was also extremely junior-laden and will return several starters throughout the diamond and in their pitching staff. •
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