HOUSTON, Texas – The Huskies struck first but couldn't hold off the Colonels late inning rally, falling 6-9 in game two at Husky Field.

After back-to-back walks by Trent Baker and Trevor Roper to lead off the bottom of the first inning, Baker and Roper advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch before Samuel Benjamin drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. A double down the left field line by Tyler LaRue scored Baker, Roper, and Benjamin to give the Huskies an early three-run lead. Throwing four shutout innings without allowing a base runner, Parker Edwards hit the first batter of the top of the fifth inning. After allowing a double to put runners on the corners, Edwards allowed a run on a groundout before giving up a homer, a double, and a triple to give the Colonels a 4-3 lead and end his day. In the bottom of the sixth inning, LaRue hit a lead off single before William Jewell drew a walk. After Ty Hodge singled through the left side scoring LaRue, Katcher Halligan singled up the middle scoring Jewell and putting runners on the corners. Hodge scored on a failed pickoff attempt by Nicholls to regain the Huskies lead back to two runs at 6-4. A grand slam by the Colonels in the top of the eighth inning followed by adding a run in the top of the ninth inning, Nicholls claimed game two, 9-6, and hold a 2-0 series lead.

The Huskies (13-26, 6-8 SLC) were led by LaRue going 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs, a run and a walk. Hodge notched his ninth multi-hit game of the season going 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run. Baker has four multi-hit games in his last five starts going 2-for-4 with a walk and a run while Halligan went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Edwards started the game pitching five innings allowing four earned runs on four hits with a season-high five strikeouts and no walks. Jackson Hamilton pitched two innings of relief giving up one earned run on one walk with a strikeout. Nicholas Willard (2-4) was tagged with the loss allowing two earned runs on a walk before recording an out. Jett Feltman pitched the final two innings of the game allowing two runs, one earned run, on three hits with a walk.

The Colonels (26-14, 9-5 SLC) were led by Basiel Williams going 2-for-5 with a grand slam, a double, five RBIs and two runs. Edgar Alvarez went 1-for-4 with two runs while Kade Turnage went 1-for-2 with a double and a run and Aaron Biediger went 1-for-4 with a home run. Jack Nelson started the game for Nicholls pitching three innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits with a trio of walks and strikeouts. Devin Desandro (4-3) earned the win pitching two scoreless innings of relief giving up two hits and a walk. Nico Saltaformaggio notched the save pitching two shutout innings of relief.

The three-game conference series will conclude with the series finale on Sunday at Husky Field at 2 p.m.

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