Feb. 23, 2008

THIBODAUX, La. - The Warhawks put six runs on the board in the first two innings and never looked back, defeating Nicholls 11-6 Saturday afternoon in the second of a three-game series on opening weekend at Ray E. Didier Field Saturday afternoon.

ULM scored five runs in the top of the first on a two RBI double by Dexter Fontenot and a bases-clearing triple by Matt Laird that scored two runs. Fontenot eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by A.J. Siggers for the fifth run.

"It wasn't very good tonight," stated Nicholls head coach Chip Durham. "We didn't come ready to play. It started in the first inning. It's hard to understand, after a night like last night in extra innings. Our team just didn't come out ready to play."

Starter Ryan Kirk (1-0) picked up the win for the Warhawks, while fifth-year senior Justin Breaux (0-1) took the loss. Ben Soignier, who started the game at shortstop, claimed the save for ULM after coming in in relief in the seventh.

The Colonels were more productive at the plate today, scoring runs in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh. Keith Kulbeth put two runs on the board for Nicholls in the fifth on a two-run single that scored Walter Jones and Anthony Wray, but Kulbeth was thrown out attempting to advance to second on the play.

Two sacrifice flies in the seventh cut the Warhawk lead to three runs (9-6), but ULM answered with two of their own in the top of the eighth to take an 11-6 advantage they would not relinquish.

"We got our bats going a little today," added Durham. "We started making some adjustments at the plate. That's the kind of team we are. We're going to scratch one here and get a few there. Six runs and 10 hits should be enough to win a ball game."

Nicholls had four players with multiple hit games, led by Jones, the centerfielder, who went two-for-three and scored twice. Kulbeth went two-for-four at the plate with three RBI.

Kyle Suire, Friday night's hero for the Warhawks, led his squad again, going three-of-five at the plate and scoring two runs.

Colonel pitchers struck out just four batters on the day, but issued six walks, five of which came around to score for ULM - the difference in the game.

"On the night, we walked six guys and made four errors," Durham summed up. "Five of those walks scored and one of those guys who reached on an error scored. That's six runs right there. That's a win for us. We should have won this ball game by one run."

The Colonels and Warhawks will play the final game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m. Junior Ryan Harding is expected to get the nod for Nicholls, while ULM will send senior Josh Lett to the mound.

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