Baseball team takes three-game series against Nicholls State Colonels, move to fifth in conference

The Bears completed a three-game sweep of the Nicholls State Colonels on Sunday with 5-0 shutout in the series finale at Bear Stadium.
Senior Ryan Angus pitched a complete game for the Bears, giving up six hits and no walks while striking out eight.
Coach Allen Gum said Angus’ performance on the mound was outstanding, especially after his last outing against the Ole Miss Rebels, in which he was pulled after two innings.
Gum said his ability to have no walks was a key factor.
“That’s where it starts for him,” Gum said. “He got pulled early last week, made some adjustments and it paid off this week.”
After five and a half scoreless innings, the Bears posted the first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore center fielder Jonathan Davis started the inning with a double to left field. Junior left fielder Ethan Harris tripled in the next at bat to score Davis and give the Bears a 1-0 lead.
The Bears added one more run in the bottom of the seventh. After senior first baseman Bryan Wilson walked to start the inning, senior Travis Snider singled to move Wilson to second and into scoring position. An RBI single to left field by sophomore designated hitter Logan Moon brought in Wilson to give the Bears a 2-0 lead heading into the eighth inning.
The Bears put the game away in the bottom of the eighth with three runs. Junior second baseman Blake Marchal started the inning with a single to left field, and then stoled second. Marchal advanced to third on a wild pitch. Davis drew a walk to place runners at the corners. A double to left center by Harris plated Marchal and Davis to extend the Bears’ lead to 4-0. Junior right fielder Forrestt Alday’s sacrifice bunt advanced Harris to third. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Wilson to give the Bears their last run of the game.
Harris led the way for the Bears at the plate, going 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Senior Mike Wisecarver picked up the loss for the Colonels in six and 1/3 innings on the mound. Wisecarver allowed two runs on six hits, one walk and one strikeout.
The Bears had to rally to win the second game of the series on Saturday. A five-run second inning gave the Colonels an early cushion. The Bears answered with one run in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Marchal.
The Colonels added two more in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 7-1, but the Bears drew within two at 7-5 after a four-run bottom of the fifth.
Gum said falling behind and making a rally is just part of the game.
“You’re going to get up, you’re going to go behind,” he said. “You just have to stick with your approach.”
The Bears took the lead in the bottom of the seventh and never looked back, scoring seven runs on seven hits in the inning. Marchal, Davis, Allday, Snider and Moon all had RBI hits in the inning. Harris added a two-RBI single in the inning as well.
“The guys linked up and they had a great approach at the plate,” Gum said. “They just stayed within themselves and they just did what they do. They didn’t think about the score, just thought about each pitch and the quality at bat. When you do that, it gives you a chance  to have those innings from time to time.”
Moon led the team in RBIs with three, going three for four at the plate. Davis led the way hitting, going five for six on the day with an RBI. He added two stolen bases as well.
Senior Andy Steinmetz earned the victory for the Bears in relief of junior Caleb McClanahan. Steinmetz pitched four and 2/3 shutout innings, allowing five hits and one walk, while striking out six.
The Bears made early work of the Colonels in the series opener on Friday night, run-ruling the Colonels in a 13-1, seven-inning game.
Junior Jeffery Enloe earned the victory for the Bears, pitching the entire seven innings, giving up one run on two hits, three walks and seven strikeouts.
Davis, Harris and Allday finished the game with two RBIs each on 8-12 combined hitting. Wilson led the team with two RBIs on two for four hitting at the plate.
For his play against the Rebels and Colonels, Davis was named the Southland Conference Hitter of the Week, going 12 for 18 at the plate with 8 runs scored, 3 RBI and four stolen bases.
The Bears travel to San Marcos, Texas, Friday to face the Texas State Bobcats in the first of a three-game set. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.