THIBODAUX - The Colonel lineup put together a five-run second inning and freshman left hander Brent Bonvillian threw 6.0 shutout innings to lead the Nicholls State University baseball team (8-3) to a 5-1 win over the Southern Jaguars (1-5) at Lee Hines Field on Sunday. The win extended the Colonels winning streak to eight games and completed a three-game sweep of the Jags.

Bonvillian kept the Jaguar lineup handcuffed all day. The Thibodaux High School product allowed just three hits and four walks while striking out six and keeping Southern off the board.

Bonvillian retired nine of the first ten batters he faced before the Jaguars could mount a serious threat. In the fourth, Southern put runners at second and third after a walk, base hit and a double steal. However, Bonvillian escaped the jam by coaxing an inning-ending groundout.

Bonvillian dodged another bullet in the sixth after allowing a pair of walks, and another double steal put runners and second and third with two outs. This time, Bonvillian's sixth and final strikeout of the day helped him escape unscathed.

With Bonvillian cruising, the Colonel offense broke the game open in the second. Nicholls strung together three hits and took advantage of one Jaguar error and two walks to plate five runs against Southern's Kyle Wahl. Ray Eureste and Chase Jaramillo each had two-run singles in the inning.

That would be all the Colonels would need as Tyler Minto and Drew Erwin came on in relief to help nail things down. In his first action of the season, Minto delivered 2.0 innings, allowing one run on four hits. Erwin came on in the ninth and delivered a three-up three-down inning to wrap things up.

The Colonels will return to action when they host LSU-Alexandria on Tuesday at Ray E. Didier Field. Nicholls will try for its ninth consecutive win after being swept in the season opening series against UL-Lafayette.

courtesy Nicholls State Athletics