THIBODAUX, La. - A six-run eighth inning led to a 9-6 victory for the Nicholls State University baseball team as the Colonels avenged an earlier loss to Jackson State, defeating the Tigers Wednesday night on Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field.

Nicholls (16-11) scored all six runs with two outs and sent 11 batters to the plate. Jaden Collura and Alec Paz each drove in two runs with bases-loaded singles.

Paz and Garrett Felix both totaled three hits and two RBIs. Trailing 6-3 in the eighth, Paz singled to start the big inning and Felix follow with a hit, but the next two batters struck out. A walk set up Collura's run-scoring hit to center. Washington tied the game at 6-6 with his free pass, then Alvarez walked for the lead. Paz delivered again as his 2-run base hit down the left field line gave Nicholls a 9-6 advantage. 

Chase Gearing (4-2) picked up the win in 1.1 innings of relief.

Jackson State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, helped by a towering 2-run homer by El'Rico Riley.

Nicholls answered with two runs in the second. Paz led off with a double and Felix tripled him after his bloop hit to left bounced passed a diving attempt by Asher Akridge. Dane Simon drove in the second on a groundout.

Jackson State scored once in the third and then added two more in the fourth. Omar Gomez-Rivera laid down a perfect bunt for an RBI and another scored on a sac fly.

Nicholls took advantage of shaky JSU pitching in the sixth to make it 6-3. Alvarez walked and Paz was hit by a pitch, setting up another RBI single from Felix.

Bradley Ely allowed five earned runs in his 3.1 inning start. The bullpen had another strong showing as four Colonels combined to throw 5.2 shutout innings. Gavin Galy (1.1 IP), Evan Keith (2.1), Nico Saltaformaggio (0.2) and Gearing all had one strikeout.

ON DECK
Nicholls heads to Houston for a three-game set against HBU, starting Friday, April 8 at 2 p.m.