LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team erased any memory of their woeful Friday night performance with a dominant 13-1 victory over McNeese State at Cowboy Diamond on Saturday night.
 
After two scoreless innings, the Colonels (24-15-1, 11-9 SLC) gave the Cowboys (23-20, 13-10 SLC) a taste of their own medicine from the previous night, driving in four quick runs. David Zorn walked and advanced to second on a Joey Morales sacrifice bunt. Darius Knight subsequently crushed a double down the right field line, scoring Zorn. Kyle Reese reached on an error, advancing Knight to third, before Tanner Vandevere walked, loading the bases. In the next at bat, Seth Stevens singled to left center, scoring both Knight and Reese. One pitch later Justin Smith singled through the left side, bringing Vandevere in for a 4-0 lead.
 
Nicholls added a pair of runs to in the fifth. Reese singled to shortstop and advanced to third on a Vandevere single to right field. Stevens subsequently reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Reese to come home. Stevens took second on a wild pitch and eventually scored as Smith reached on an error.
 
McNeese was handed their only run of the night in the bottom of the frame on a balk that allowed Connor Lloyd to come home.
 
The Colonels quickly regained their six-run lead in the following inning when Knight singled to center and came home on a Reese double to left center.
 
Nicholls added five runs in the seventh. Alex Tucker led off with a line drive monster double down the left field line that was ruled an error. Zorn was then hit by a pitch before Morales walked, loading the bases. The next batter, Holt, was also hit by a pitch, forcing Tucker in. Knight singled to center, scoring Zorn and Morales, before the Cowboys could end the inning.
 
The Colonels added a final run in the eighth to increase their advantage to 12 runs before a scoreless ninth on both sides closed out the game.
 
Grant Borne (4-4) earned the win in a dominant performance, allowing just one run on six hits with nine strikeouts through eight innings on the mound. In relief, Marc Frazier picked up right where Borne left off, fanning two batters in a hitless, scoreless ninth inning.
 
Bryce Kingsley (4-4) took the loss, surrendering six runs on eight hits with three strikeouts through 4 2/3 innings on the hill.
 
Knight led Nicholls with an incredible offensive night, tying his career-high in hits (three), RBIs (three) and runs scored (three). Stevens finished 1-for-4 with three RBIs and a run, while Reese went 3-for-6 with two RBIs and scored twice.
 
Six batters registered a hit for the Cowboys, but none turned in a multi-hit outing.
 
The teams will square off in the series finale set for 1 p.m. on Sunday. The rubber match will be broadcast live on KTIB 640 AM.
 
Visit geauxcolonels.com for live stats, video and the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball.