NACOGDOCHES, Texas (Interstat) — Nico RijoBerger drove in four runs on four hits and the Nicholls State offense erupted for 15 hits as the Colonels pulled away late for a 9-4 victory over Stephen F. Austin on Friday night at Jaycees Field.

The game’s pivotal sequence came in the top of the ninth inning, which began with the Colonels clinging to a 6-4 lead. Nicholls State capitalized on a Stephen F. Austin error and a wild pitch to score three unearned runs, turning a tight contest into a comfortable win. The rally was anchored by RijoBerger, who delivered a two-run single, his fourth hit of the night, to provide critical insurance.

Nicholls State improved to 18-19 overall, while Stephen F. Austin fell to 21-17.

The Lumberjacks struck first, scoring twice in the opening frame against Colonels starter Dawson Richard. After a walk and a single, Zac Swift and Josh Ibe delivered consecutive run-scoring hits to give Stephen F. Austin an early 2-0 advantage.

The Colonels, however, erased the deficit and seized control with a four-run outburst in the top of the sixth. Trailing 2-0, RijoBerger sparked the rally with a double. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by MaCrae Jenkins. Keegan Giger then laced an RBI double, and Parker Shafer followed with another run-scoring double. Kade Milam capped the inning with an RBI single to put Nicholls State ahead 5-2.

Stephen F. Austin responded immediately in the bottom half of the sixth, chasing Richard and scoring twice to close the gap to 5-4. Ibe notched his second RBI of the game with a single, and a groundout brought home another run. Colonels reliever Peyton Lacy entered with two on and one out and escaped further damage, beginning a stretch of dominant relief pitching for Nicholls State.

Lacy earned the win with three perfect innings of relief, striking out one. After the Colonels extended their lead in the ninth, Eli Waters struck out two in a perfect bottom of the ninth to seal the victory.

RijoBerger, the designated hitter, was the offensive catalyst, going 4 for 5 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored. Giger also had four hits, including two doubles, and drove in two runs. Ibe led the Lumberjacks, going 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

Richard, the Nicholls State starter, allowed four earned runs on seven hits over five-plus innings. He did not factor in the decision. Stephen F. Austin starter C.J. Templeton took the loss, surrendering five earned runs on nine hits in six innings.

The game was a back-and-forth affair until the ninth, when the Colonels broke it open. With Jack James on in relief for Stephen F. Austin, Cade Terry singled and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error by James. After a wild pitch scored Terry, RijoBerger’s single plated another. Giger added an RBI single later in the inning against reliever Kadin Munson.

The teams will continue their three-game series on Saturday.