THIBODAUX, La. – The Jackson State University baseball team lead most of the way, but could not hold a late lead in a 9-6 loss at Nicholls Wednesday night at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field.
The Tigers got off to a fast start with a three-run first inning.
Jatavis Melton led off with a single to right field, stole second, and advanced to third on a bunt single by
Asher Akridge.
Ty Hill's sacrifice fly scored Melton for a 1-0 lead. After Akridge stole second,
El'Rico Riley homered to left center on a 1-2 pitch to give Jackson State a 3-0 lead.
Leading 3-2 after two innings, JSU extended the lead in the third and fourth innings. Melton led off the third reaching on a fielding error, and later scored on a double steal attempt to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead.
In the fourth,
Devontae Rhodes was hit by a pitch with one out, and moved to second on a single to right field by
Colby Guy. Jefery Rodriguez was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Omar Gomez-Rivera's bunt single scored Rhodes for a 5-2 lead. Melton's sacrifice fly scored Guy to give the Tigers a 6-2 lead.
However, Nicholls scored one run in the sixth, and six runs in the eighth inning for the final margin.
The Tigers return to action this weekend hosting Mississippi Valley State in a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference series. Game times are 6 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday at Braddy Field.
