NSU Colonels split season-ending doubleheader

In his second-to-last game as a Colonel, senior Shane Barksdale blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth Saturday night for a 4-3 Nicholls win over Southeastern in game one of a doubleheader.

The Lions claimed a 4-1 victory in game two at Ray E. Didier Field Saturday. The Lions won two-out-of-three in the final regular season series.

The Colonels finished the season 10-44 (5-25 SLC), while the Lions head to the Southland Tournament with a record of 29-25 (15-15 SLC).

The Colonels honored their 15 seniors in a pregame ceremony.

In game one, Colonels senior pitcher Bryan Myers (3-5) had his best start of the season in the complete game win. He fanned eight Lions batters, scattered 10 hits, allowed three runs and two walks.

The game was scoreless through five innings. In the sixth, NSU loaded the bases on two singles and a walk before Brett Hoeflich (2-for-3, two doubles, two RBIs) drove a double to right field, plating Brett Cook and Walter Jones.

Anthony Wray got a RBI on a fielder’s choice that scored Keith Kulbeth as the Colonels took a 3-0 lead.

Southeastern scored a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth, tying the game 3-3.

In the bottom of the ninth, Barksdale took a 1-0 pitch over the right field fence to give the Colonels the win.

“I’m really proud of Bryan Myers,” said Colonel skipper Chip Durham. “He pitched a heck of a game. Shane got hold of that pitch and helped us get the win in that game.”

The Lions’ Eric Callender (0-1) pitched 2.1 innings of relief with two hits, one run and three strikeouts for the loss.

In game two, the Lions’ Cass Hargis scored in the first after leading off the game with a double, and Brian McCants hit a solo homer in the second, giving Southeastern a 2-0 lead.

Southeastern added two runs in the top of the seventh on back-to-back RBI singles for a 4-0 lead.

Nicholls scored in the bottom of the seventh, taking advantage of a single by Patrick Thompson. Josh Swenson pinch ran and scored when Zac Bone lined out to left.

NSU starter Seth Webster (1-6) endured the loss, giving up two runs on three hits and three strikeouts through four innings. Jacob Sullivan, Nathan Quebedeaux and Joe Hagerty made appearances out of the bullpen for Nicholls, issuing one walk and striking out four.

Seniors Anthony Marino and Brandt Boudreaux was 2-for-3 in game two — two singles for Marino, a double and a single for Boudreaux.

“I’m proud of these 15 seniors and what they have done during their time here,” Durham said. “We’re sad to see them go, but know that they are moving on to bigger and better things, and we wish them all luck.”