Final Stats THIBODAUX, La. – Desperately needing a win to stay in the conference race, the Nicholls baseball team took the lead and kept it, defeating the Texas State Bobcats in Sunday's series finale 5-2.

Nicholls (21-22, 9-15 SLC) pounded out 12 hits on the day, scoring in the second, sixth and eighth innings to pull away from the Bobcats (25-17, 13-11) for good, led by Matt Richard's 3-for-4 day with a run scored. Michael LeGrange and Cody Dufrene each finished with two hits on the day.

In his first weekend start, Mike Suk (6-1) earned the win lasting eight innings, allowing two runs, scattering 12 hits with five strikeouts and a walk, while Jordan McCoy earned his team-leading seventh save of the year with a walk and strikeout in the final inning.

Texas State plated a run on a single down the right field line, as LeGrange threw out the runner at second to nab the out. Philip Lyons saved another run from crossing the plate, making a great cross-the-body play to throw out the lead runner at home before ending the inning with a groundout.

After a lineout, Blake Bergeron singled on a bunt advancing to second on an error on the throw by the third baseman. A sacrifice bunt by David Zorn pushed Bergeron to third, eventually being brought in by Dufrene on a single to right field to tie the game. Richard then singled off of the glove of the shortstop putting runners at first and second with two outs. In the next at bat, Lyons singled to short left field, and the ball wasn't deep enough for Dufrene to score from second getting caught at home on a relay throw to end the inning.

With two outs, Beau Faulk singled to left field, followed by a double down the right field line by LeGrange to put runners at second and third, but a deep fly ball ended the threat.

Dufrene doubled down the left field line, and a Richard ground ball to the shortstop resulted in a high throw to first base for an error, putting runners at the corners with just one out. Richard advanced to second on a wild pitch to put two back in scoring position for the third-straight inning. Another error by Texas State on a Lyons grounder allowed Dufrene to score as Nicholls went up 2-1. A double-play grounder ended the Nicholls inning.

Zorn walked to lead off the sixth inning, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dufrene. Richard singled to short centerfield putting runners at the corners with just one out, and then stole second to put two in scoring position. A Lyons walk loaded the bases, and a bunt single by Austin Flores scored Zorn, with the resulting error on the throw by the pitcher allowed Richard to score and advance Flores to second to give Nicholls a 4-1 lead. A line drive two batters later to the second baseman allowed Texas State to double up Hill at first who got on after an intentional walk.

Texas State got its second run of the game off of a single to right-center, bringing in a runner from second. But with two runners left on with two outs, a single to left field set the runners in motion and as the runner from second was charging from home, Zorn had his throw in relayed perfectly by Bergeron who was able to get the ball to Dufrene at home to get the runner out by three steps to end the inning.

Richard laced his third hit of the game to begin the eighth. Lyons hit into the fielder's choice in the next at bat, getting Richard out at second. Lyons made the most of his base running, stealing second then advancing to third on an error. Flores flied out to right field with Lyons tagging up and sliding in safely just as the throw was getting in to give Nicholls a 5-2 lead for the last run of the game.

The Colonels return to the diamond on Wednesday, hosting the Alcorn State Braves in a made up game from last week.