CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Interstat) — Dawson Richard and two relievers combined on a three-hit shutout of the final eight innings, and the Nicholls State Colonels broke open a tight game with a five-run sixth to defeat the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 8-3 on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader.

The Colonels (9-8) secured the series victory after winning the opener on Friday, while the Islanders evened their record at 8-8.

The most important sequence of the game arrived in the top of the sixth inning, turning a one-run contest into a comfortable Nicholls State lead. Holding a 3-2 edge, the Colonels chased Islanders starter Nathan Mueller and pounced on the bullpen. Kaden Thompson and MaCrae Jenkins led off with back-to-back singles against reliever Cade Singleton. After a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, Nico RijoBerger delivered an RBI single to plate Thompson.

Following a strikeout and an intentional walk that loaded the bases, Jaxon Milam drove in another run with a single. Pinch-hitter Logan Terry then drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a third run. After a pitching change, Keegan Giger reached on a fielder’s choice that brought home two more runs, the latter scoring on a throwing error by Islanders shortstop Josh Barron. The outburst stretched the lead to 8-2 and effectively put the game out of reach.

The offensive support was more than enough for Richard (1-0), who delivered a dominant start for Nicholls State. The right-hander pitched five innings, allowing no hits and no earned runs. He walked two, hit three batters and struck out seven. All three Islanders runs against him were unearned, stemming from a passed ball and two throwing errors by Colonels catcher Baylor Mock.

Richard’s performance was a stark turnaround from his previous outing on Feb. 28, when he allowed seven hits and two earned runs in a loss to McNeese State.

The Colonels bullpen preserved the combined one-hitter with perfection. Tyler Avery followed Richard with three hitless innings, striking out three and inducing two double-play grounders. Eli Waters closed it with a hitless ninth, striking out two.

Mueller (1-2) took the loss for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi despite a solid effort. He went five innings, surrendering two runs on just two hits while striking out five. His lone mistake was a solo home run to Milam in the fifth inning, Milam’s second of the season.

The Islanders offense was stifled all afternoon, managing only three singles. They grounded into three double plays, killing any potential rallies. Second baseman Cade Sanchez provided two of the hits and both RBIs for Corpus Christi, driving in runs in the first and third innings.

Nicholls State scored first in the opening frame when RijoBerger singled home Brayden Melancon, who had been hit by a pitch. The Islanders answered with an unearned run in the bottom half on Sanchez’s RBI groundout. Sanchez tied the game at 2-2 in the third with another RBI single, again scoring an unearned run after a stolen base and an error.

Milam’s solo shot in the fifth gave Nicholls State the lead for good at 3-2, setting the stage for the decisive sixth-inning rally. The Colonels added an insurance run in the ninth on an RBI fielder’s choice by Jenkins.

The teams were set to conclude the three-game series with the second game of the doubleheader later Saturday.