THIBODAUX, Louisiana – HBU senior righthander and Nicholls righthander Cole Stapler went toe-to-toe, but the Colonels broke through first and held on for a 2-1 victory in the Southland Conference series opener Friday night at Ray E. Didier Field.
Russ (0-2) went 8.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with nine strikeouts and two walks, while Stapler (2-2) went 9.0 innings, giving up one run on three hits with seven strikeouts and a walk.
Junior first baseman
Carey Jones went 2-for-3 with a home run, while senior centerfielder
Zane Otten had the other hit for HBU (8-8, 0-1 SLC).
Quentin Smith and Juan Givan had the only hits for the Colonels (10-8, 3-1), which both came in the pivotal seventh inning.
Russ had no-hit Nicholls through six, had retired eight in a row, including striking out the side in the fifth, before Smith led off the seventh with a single to left. Gavin Wehby drew a walk, then Alex Tucker laid down a sacrifice bunt. With the infield in, Givan doubled just inside the first-base bag to give the Colonels a 2-0 lead.
Jones led off the eighth with his second home run of the season, but Stapler retired the last five Huskies to earn the win.
The series continues Saturday at 6 p.m., followed by the finale Sunday at 1 p.m.
