USA Baseball Wins 5-4 On Walk-Off Single Over Nicholls State
The Jaguar baseball team defeated Nicholls State 5-4 Tuesday night at Eddie Stanky Field on Davis Knapp’s bases-loaded, walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Nicholls State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Justin Holt hit a two-out, three-run double down the left field line after the bases were loaded on consecutive walks and a one-out single.
The Jags responded with three runs in the bottom of the second inning when Cole Jarman and Cameron Cummings got on base with back-to-back one-out walks. Andrew Tindell then reached on a fielding error by the second baseman which allowed Jarman to score from second base to cut the lead to 3-1. Drew LaBounty then hit an RBI single to right-center shave another run off the lead. Knapp then tied the game two batters later with a two-out RBI single to right center which scored Tindell from second base.
In the top of the third, the Colonels regained the lead by one run after Keith Cormier would get on base with a one-out walk. He could then be diven home by an RBI single to right field. Though they threatened by loading the bases on starter Matt Bell, but Hunter Soleymani entered in relief and pitched out of the jam without allowing another run.
In the bottom of the fourth, LaBounty would hit a two-out single to center field, then advance to third on a single to right field by Ballew and eventually tie the game on a throwing error by the catcher on a stolen base by Ballew to knot the game at 4-all.
In the bottom of the ninth, Cummings and Tindell both reached base on back-to-back walks to lead off the inning. Both advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt by LaBounty then Knapp would take a 1-0 and hit it through the left side of the infield to drive in Cummings for the winning run.
The Colonels fall to 13-13 on the season as the Jaguars improve to 13-10 on the season.
Jaguar right-hander Ben Taylor earned the win on two scoreless innings of relief while striking out three and walking one. Knapp went 2-for-5 in the game with two RBI to lead the Jags.
USA will host UT-Arlington for a three-game SBC series this weekend starting at 6:30pm on Friday.