Byrd inspiring Nicholls’ postseason surge

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May 21, 2014
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May 21, 2014
Hickey among trio of departing LSU hoopsters
May 21, 2014
LHSAA releases 2014 prep football schedules
May 21, 2014

When the 2014 season started, Nicholls ace pitcher Taylor Byrd didn’t know what was in store for him beyond his senior season. 


In truth, the left-hander still doesn’t know. But a masterful season by Byrd, which continued last weekend against rival McNeese State to close out the regular season, has put him in a position for a shot at playing professionally once he finishes his college career. 

Byrd tossed eight shutout innings against McNeese in a 6-0 victory last Friday, allowing just three hits and three walks to go with four strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 1.92 in 14 starts this season – the second best mark in the Southland Conference behind Southeastern right-hander Andro Cutura. For his performance, Byrd was named Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week. 

Not knowing what his future held in store, but knowing he’d have to work hard to earn whatever may be next was enough to motivate Byrd coming into the season. 


“What drove me is it was my last year, my senior season,” he said. “I’m trying to continue to play after this year, professionally, so this being my last year and not knowing if you’re going to play or not afterward, it just pushed me to work as hard as I can.” 

This season, Byrd has followed the age-old formula of throwing strikes and getting ahead of hitters to stay effective. He has 80 strikeouts (the second highest number in the conference) to 27 walks through 89 innings pitched, and his “out pitch” has been his curveball, which he’s developed the confidence to throw any time during an at-bat. 

“My curveball has been my best pitch this year, and then just being able to locate my fastball better than last year has helped me a lot,” said Byrd. 


The last Nicholls pitcher to be drafted by a Major League club was Brad Delatte (Toronto, fifth round) in 2012. Byrd could be the next one, but while the Petal, Mississippi native would like pitch at the next level, there is still some work to be done first. 

Nicholls (32-24 overall, 21-9 conference) will look to clinch its first berth in the NCAA Baseball Tournament in over 15 years when it competes in the Southland Conference Tournament in Conway, Arkansas. this week. The Colonels are scheduled to open the tournament Wednesday at 4 p.m. against McNeese in a rematch between the two in-state rivals. 

Byrd is a big reason why the Colonels are the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, and why the team has put together their most successful season in years. He has been the team’s Friday night starter all year, racking up eight victories this season and consistently getting the Colonels off to good starts in weekend play (the team won all but two conference series during the regular season). 


And with five straight wins to close out the regular season, Byrd said the team likes its chances of winning the Southland Tournament and earning the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The school hasn’t made an NCAA Regional since the 1998 season when they lost in the Baton Rouge Regional to eventual College World Series semifinalist LSU, and Harvard.

“I think everybody on our team likes our chances,” said Byrd. “We’ve got a really good team and good leadership on this team. We’re not afraid of anybody. Every opponent that we play, we feel like we can beat them. Even when we played LSU and we lost to them, we felt like we could beat them.”

With a rotation that boasts Byrd, fellow southpaw Grant Borne and right-handers Brandon Jackson and Ryan Deemes, as well as a dominant bullpen featuring Marc Frazier, Stuart Holmes, and Marc Picciola, Byrd has plenty of reason to feel confident. 


The Colonels’ 2.59 ERA this season was the best in the conference, and Nicholls coach Seth Thibodeaux knows that pitching is his team’s bread and butter. 

But the coach is also trying to achieve a bigger, more long-term goal. He believes that seniors like Byrd have laid the groundwork for Nicholls to become a consistently good baseball program, one where making postseason tournaments are the norm. 

Prior to this season, the Colonels hadn’t made the Southland Tournament since 2011. They hope their appearance at this year’s event is the start of an annual tradition. If so, players like Byrd will be a big reason why.


Nicholls lefty ace Taylor Byrd fires a pitch during a game this season. The 2014 baseball season has been a magical ride for the Colonels who finished the season as the runners-up in the Southland Conference. 

COURTESY