Dillard Suffers Loss at Nicholls State

THIBODAUX, LA (Feb. 24, 2026) — Nicholls turned a tight early game into a runaway with a pair of crooked-number innings, defeating Dillard 16–2 Tuesday afternoon at Ray E. Didier Field.

After Dillard briefly closed within a run in the third, the Colonels' offense erupted for five runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth, then tacked on three in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Nicholls improved to 4–6, while Dillard fell to 3–6.

Nicholls struck first in the opening inning. Greyson Shafer lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Keegan Giger, and Matt Melancon followed with an RBI double to make it 2–0.

Nicholls added another in the second on a sequence that foreshadowed the day: Andy Miller tripled and then came home on a throwing error, pushing the lead to 3–0.

Dillard's best stretch came in the third. Mike Lewis launched a solo homer to left to get the visitors on the board, and Dillard manufactured another run when K'Wality Williams drove in Matthew Leblanc on a groundout, trimming the deficit to 3–2.

That was as close as it would get.

In the fourth, Nicholls opened the game up behind run-scoring hits from Miller and Karson Irvin, plus a sac fly and a bunt RBI single, turning a one-run game into an 8–2 advantage. The fifth brought another five-run burst, highlighted by RBI hits from Miller and Irvin and a two-RBI single by Noah Detillier that also included an extra run via an outfield throwing error.

Nicholls kept piling on in the sixth, scoring three more—this time aided by control issues and hit batters—stretching the margin to 16–2.

By the numbers:

Nicholls
- Andy Miller: 3-for-4, 4 runs, 2 RBI, triple (spark plug at the top of multiple big innings)
- Karson Irvin: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, double, 2 runs
- Noah Detillier: 1 hit, 3 RBI, plus an RBI walk
- Nicholls finished with 11 hits, 8 walks, and took advantage of Dillard's 4 errors (several Nicholls runs scored unearned).

Dillard
- Managed 4 hits and no walks, striking out 9 times.
- Mike Lewis: provided the main highlight with a solo home run; also drove in one of Dillard's two runs.
- Dillard's defense struggled, committing four errors, which extended innings and fueled Nicholls' big frames.

On the mound:
Nicholls' staff was in control throughout:
- Cannon Hensarling (W, 1–0) went 3.0 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits while striking out 3.
- Three relievers combined to allow just one hit the rest of the way, and Nicholls pitchers issued zero walks.

Dillard starter Keymoni Coleman (L, 0–1) worked 4.0 innings and was charged with 8 runs (6 earned). Dillard's bullpen battled command and traffic, with Nicholls scoring repeatedly via walks, hit batters, and extended innings.

-Final:Nicholls 16, Dillard 2

-Bleu Devils-