SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Nicholls used a four-run fifth inning to defeat the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team, 8-3 in game three of the Southland Conference series Sunday at Sullivan Field to win the series, 2-1.

The Colonels (14-20, 5-10 SLC) came out swinging in the series finale.  They out-hit the Cardinals, 15-7 including a five-hit afternoon for Gavin Wehby who finished the game 5-for-5 with a run scored and a run batted in.

The Cardinals (8-24, 3-9 SLC) jumped out ahead with an early run in the second inning by taking advantage of three wild pitches in the bottom of the frame, but the lead would not last long.  The Colonels tied the game in the fourth inning after Wehby hit a leadoff triple and then came in to score on an RBI ground out from Justin Holt.

In the fifth inning Nicholls chased UIW starter Cody Richey (Comfort/Comfort HS) from the game, scoring four runs in the inning and taking a commanding 5-1 lead. Richey exited the ballgame after 4.1 innings allowing six hits, four earned runs, no walks and striking out one.  The Cardinals used a total of six pitchers in the loss.

Nicholls used four pitchers in the victory and Alex Ernestine earned his second win of the season after throwing 4.0 innings while allowing three hits, one run, one walk and two strikeouts in relief.

Kyle Knauth also enjoyed a successful Sunday.  He finished the game 3-for-5 with two RBI's and a run scored for the visitors.  Joey Morales hit his first homerun of the season in the ninth inning to make it 8-2.

Cory Duran (Lewisville/Lewisville HS) responded with a solo homerun of his own in the bottom of the ninth to make it 8-3, but it would not be enough for the comeback. Weston Pitts (Highland Village/Flower Mound Marcus HS) collected three hits off the bench and Austin Hoffman (Goodyear, AZ/Millenium HS) drove in a run with a ground out that scored Eddy Gonzalez (Laredo/United HS) from third after hitting his third triple of the series.

The Cardinals will look to get back on track on Tuesday night when they go to UTSA for a single game.
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