Desandro’s pitching, five-run inning, give Nicholls 10-3 win to set up shot at SLC title

The only thing hotter than the heat and humidity on Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray Didier Field on Friday afternoon was the pitching of Devin Desandro and the Colonels’ bats in the third inning.

Desandro never allowed a runner past first base through the first six innings and the Colonel batters used five hits to score five runs in the third inning to build a 5-0 lead on the way to a 10-3 win over McNeese State.

The win improved Nicholls to 16-7 in the Southland Conference. Also on Friday, Lamar lost 8-6 at the University of New Orleans. The Cardinals closed their season at 17-7 in the SLC. A win by Nicholls over McNeese in Saturday’s game scheduled for 1 p.m. in Thibodaux would allow the Colonels to claim a share of the conference title.

A week earlier, the Colonels took two of three games from Lamar in Thibodaux in the head-to-head series.

“We’re playing for a championship at home tomorrow. It’s what we wanted,” Nicholls coach Mike Silva said. “We needed a little bit of help today and we got it. When you stay the course things start to kind of fall your way and we gotta finish tomorrow. They’re not going to lay down. They’re a really well-coached team. They’re tough. They definitely don’t want to watch us celebrate on our field.

“It’s an opportunity. Coming the last game of the season, the way things started for us on this field with an opportunity to win another championship is special.”

Through the first six innings, Desandro threw 67 pitches, 48 for strikes and no McNeese player advanced as far a second base against the senior from E.D. White in Thibodaux.

“I just went out there and I just wanted to trust my guys behind me, give my team a chance, and I just went out there and threw strikes,” said Desandro. “They had the defense working for me all day long and I love them boys behind me. I just wanted to get them involved as much as possible.

“I went fastball pretty much the majority of the day. I just went in and out, in and out, and they kept hitting ground balls. It was a great day.”

Desandro was one of 17 seniors who were honored by the team after the game on Senior Day.

“That kid’s so damn competitive. We haven’t started him. To start in that situation and to go out and pitch the way that he did, nobody wants it more than him. I’m just really happy for him to have this moment, especially on Senior Day,” said Silva.

All of the hits in the third inning for Nicholls were singles.

Leadoff hitter Parker Coddou started things off with an infield hit. After Edgar Alvarez walked, a sacrifice by Gerardo Villarreal advanced both runners into scoring position.

A single to right field by Garrett Felix scored Coddou for a 1-0 Nicholls lead. Coddou’s leadoff hit was his second hustle play on the bases in the game. His infield hit came when he beat the throw to first base by McNeese second baseman Peyton LeJeune. Coddou opened the bottom of the first inning when he stretched a hit into right field into a double.

“Coach Silva is always talking about when we do something, do it aggressive. I’m always looking for that next bag. I always play 100 percent, play hard,” said Coddou.

Basiel Williams followed with a single over the McNeese shortstop to make it 2-0.

Drake Anderon came up with the third consecutive base hit of the inning. Anderson’s hit drove in Felix. A throwing error by the McNeese center fielder allowed Williams to score and Anderson to advance to second base for a 4-0 Nicholls lead.

A single by McCrae Kendrick scored Williams for a 5-0 lead before McNeese starter Alexi Gravel was replaced by Daelan Caraway.

Caraway got Narvin Booker Jr. to ground out and struck out Kaden Amundson to get out of the inning.

“We talk about getting big innings and not giving them up. It keeps momentum. The biggest thing Devin did after we got the big inning was put up a zero and then put up another zero. It gave us some time to extend the lead,” said Silva.

Coddou, another senior product out of E.D. White, said it was a nice feeling to spot Desandro a five-run lead.

“It’s awesome. I love that dude. I’ve been playing with him since I don’t know when. Just to see him do what he did today, and we gave him some confidence and it was awesome,” said Coddou.

Nicholls added a run in the fourth inning. A bases-loaded fly ball to left field by Felix was dropped by McNeese left fielder Cooper Hext, allowing the run to score. Caraway avoided further damage when he got Williams to line out and Anderson go ground out.

The one time Desandro allowed a runner past first base was the only occasion in which he allowed a run.

Elliott Hebert led off the seventh inning with a double – the first Cowboy to reach as far as second base. A ground out by Conner Westenburg advanced Hebert to third base. Hebert scored on a sacrifice fly by Braley Hollins to make the score 9-1.

The run came a half inning after Nicholls tacked on three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Two of the runs came with the bases loaded to force in runs when Anderson was hit by a pitch and Kendrick walked. A wild pitch by Brian Shadrick, who had entered the game to open the inning, allowed Williams to score from third base.

Nicholls added a run in the eighth inning and McNeese scored two in the ninth to account for the 10-3 final.

Desandro moved to 6-4 with the win. He ended up allowing one run on five hits and one walk, while striking out five in 7 2/3 innings.

More importantly, he gave the Colonels a chance to play for the conference title on Saturday.

“That’s what I wanted to come out here and do today, give my team a quality start, save some guys in the bullpen so we can get after them tomorrow,” said Desandro.

Gravel lasted only 2 1/3 innings in falling to 1-4 on the season. He allowed five runs, four of which were earned, on seven hits and three walks, while striking out two.

The task of capturing the conference championship is at hand, but Coddou said he knows it’s not going to be easy against a McNeese team playing for pride.

“It’s gonna be a battle tomorrow. They’re gonna fight us for it, but we can’t ask for any other way. It’s awesome,” said Silva.

While it might be a different sport, the Colonels won’t need a ‘win one of the Gipper,’ speech a la legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne.

“I don’t think they’re gonna need a pep talk to get excited,” said Silva. “I think the whole community is excited. I know these kids are. I want them to go have fun and enjoy it. These kids have played for championships now on the last day of the season, the last weekend of the season, two years in a row. Hopefully, some of that experience pays off where they can stay within themselves.

“You worry about trying to do a little bit too much, but I’m not going to slow them down tomorrow. It’s their moment. They’ve earned that. This time of year really as a coach you are just managing the game. The coaching is done, it’s just them going out and playing.”