Thibodaux, La. - Nicholls scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on two hits and two Bearkat errors to chalk up a 7-3 Southland Conference baseball victory over Sam Houston Friday night.
Nicholls (11-7) and Sam Houston (9-8) will meet in the second game of the series Saturday afternoon and end the three game set Sunday.
SHSU starter Cody Dickson took his first loss of the year, giving up four runs in seven and one-third innings. Only one of the runs was earned as the Kats committed three errors. Dickson struck out five Colonel batters.
The Bearkats totaled nine hits in the contest while limited Nicholls to eight.
Luke Plucheck brought in Sam Houston's first two runs with sacrifice flies in the top of the sixth and eighth innings. Anthony Azar produced the third run with a triple to right center for the Kats' second run in the eighth, a tally that put the Bearkats up 3-2 going into the bottom of the inning.
Jake Arrington led the Bearkats at the plate, going 2-for-4.
