Stuart Holmes
Nicholls Athletics
1
Incarnate Word UIW 11-17
4
Winner NICHOLLS NICH 16-12-1
Incarnate Word UIW
11-17
1
Final
4
NICHOLLS NICH
16-12-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Incarnate Word UIW 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 2
NICHOLLS NICH 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 X 4 6 0

W: Deemes, Ryan (4-0) L: Encina, Geno (1-2) S: Holmes, Stuart (10)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Dominant Pitching Leads Nicholls Over Incarnate Word, 4-1

THIBODAUX, La. – Incarnate Word was no match for the Nicholls State University pitching staff on Thursday night as the Colonels took a 4-1 victory over the Cardinals in the series-opener at Ray E. Didier Field.
 
Incarnate Word (11-17, 2-8 SLC) jumped on top early, taking advantage of a two-out walk in the first inning to score a run on pair of singles.
 
Nicholls (16-12-1, 6-7 SLC) responded in a big way, scoring three runs in the second. Christian Correa doubled down the leftfield line to send Eagle Wuestney home, before a Joey Morales single to center brought Gavin Wehby in. On the play, the Cardinal centerfielder bobbled the ball, allowing Correa to score.
 
The Colonels added an insurance run in the third inning when Kyle Reese doubled to right field, advanced to third on a Marc Frazier groundout and came home as Wuestney reached on an error by the shortstop.
 
Both teams would be held scoreless for the remainder of the game, but the Cardinals provided a scare in the eighth. After surrendering a one-out double, Ryan Deemes, who had been dominant through the first seven innings, pegged two consecutive Incarnate Word batters to load the bases. Lefty closer Stuart Holmes took over, striking out the next two Cardinals who came to the plate and escaping the inning.
 
Deemes (4-0) earned the win, giving up just one run on five hits while fanning seven batters. Holmes recorded his 10th save of the season, tossing five strikeouts with just one hit allowed in 1 2/3 innings. Holmes is currently first in the Southland Conference and third in the nation in saves this season. He needs just two more saves to set the school record for career saves and saves in a season simultaneously.
 
Geno Encina (1-2) took the loss, giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits, while fanning five batters.
 
Correa led Nicholls offensively with a 2-for-3 night, a run and an RBI. Morales finished 1-for-2 with an RBI, while both Wuestney and Wehby went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Reese turned in a 1-for-4 outing and a run in the victory.
 
Matt Morris paced Incarnate Word at the plate, going 2-for-4. Ethan McGill registered the lone RBI for the squad.
 
Game two is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday with the series-finale is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday. Both contests will be broadcast live on KTIB 640 AM.
 
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