HAMMOND, La. (Interstat) — Eric Nachtsheim pitched six innings of one-hit ball, striking out three, as McNeese State defeated Nicholls State 11-3 on Thursday in the Southland Baseball Championship.

Isaiah Keller homered to left center in the first inning, driving in three runs. Easton Dowell doubled in two runs in the fourth. McNeese added runs on a sacrifice fly, a single from Truett Barbero, a two-run single from Drew Stringfellow, a solo homer by Tate Heusohn and an RBI single by Joe Pinkerton.

Keegan Giger homered for the Colonels in the second inning and Caston Thompson hit a two-run shot in the fifth. Parker Morgan, Adrian Najar and Elliott Burrows each threw a scoreless inning for the Cowboys.

McNeese collected 12 hits, Nicholls 10. The Cowboys improved to 27-23, while the Colonels fell to 21-25.