LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — Louisiana-Lafayette defeated Nicholls State 7-1 on Wednesday night at M.L. Tigue Moore Field, using a five-run fifth inning to pull away.

The Ragin’ Cajuns (26-18) struck first in the bottom of the first when Colt Brown singled to center field, driving in two runs. Nicholls State (20-20) answered in the top of the second as Cameron Shafer doubled to left-center, scoring Giger to cut the lead to 2-1.

Louisiana-Lafayette broke the game open in the fifth. Consecutive RBI singles from Collins and Lewis, a run-scoring double by Amedee and sacrifice flies from Hernandez and Brown pushed the margin to 7-1.

Hayden Pearson earned top-star honors for the Cajuns, tossing four innings of two-hit, scoreless relief with three strikeouts. Ty Roman started and allowed one earned run on three hits in four innings, striking out four. Brown finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs.

Nicholls State used eight pitchers, with Dalton Hill and Will Mabry each tossing a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.

The Cajuns collected eight hits, while the Colonels managed five.