THIBODAUX, La. – Three errors in one inning yielded four unearned runs for Nicholls and it cost the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team the Southland Conference series opener 4-1 on Thursday evening at Ray E. Didier Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game one of the series was a pitching duel.
John Shull pitched his best game of the season, but Cole Stapler out-pitched him with a complete game, five-hitter. With the game scoreless into the sixth inning, the Cardinals' (15-19, 4-9 SLC) finally got on the board thanks to a pair of singles for and playing small ball.
Bryce Shepherd started the inning with an infield single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sam Gutierrez, and
Mark Whitehead later drove him in with an RBI single through the right side.
Then came the seventh inning. UIW committed three errors in the inning, which led to four runs for Nicholls (19-17, 6-7 SLC). Shull exited in the inning after completing six scoreless innings and only allowing the four unearned runs on eight hits, no walks and four strikeouts.
Tyler Miller kept the Colonels off the board for the last 1.2 innings, and retired every batter he faced.
With the 4-1 lead, Stapler went on to retire the last six Cardinal hitters to secure his fourth win of the season. Shull got tabbed with the loss, despite his strong outing and moved to 3-5.
LEADERS
The Cardinals only collected five hits in the game; all singles. Whitehead, Shepherd,
Garrett Terrell,
David Anaya and
Kyle Bergeron each had a hit, while Shepherd scored
the lone run and Whitehead drove in one.
For the Colonels, Gage Teer and Juan Givan finished with two hits apiece and a double each. Givan, Kyle Knauth and Quade Smith all drove in a run.
UP NEXT
Game two of the series is scheduled for 6 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday at Ray E. Didier Field in Thibodaux, La., and game three is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m.
STAY TUNED
Following the weekend series, UIW will play the Roadrunners in a non-conference game on Tuesday at UTSA at 6 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.
