Nicholls State University - La Pirogue Yearbook (Thibodaux, LA)

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Catcher Mike Mulligan steps high for ai throw during a team practice. It was an odd year cont. Then came a surprise from Southeastern Louisiana. Records showed an ineligible junior college transfer student had played for the Lions. As a result, the college volun- tarily forfeited all CSC games, giving Nic- holls a 12-0 conference record. The Colonels finished the season by tak- ing two of a three-game series from Missis- sippi College, finishing the regular season with a 15-3 conference and 26-18 overall record. Twelve of those losses were to Divi- sion I teams. Again Nicholls faced Iacksonville, and again it was a repeat of the past two odd- year encounters. The Gamecocks, 34-7, won the first game 12-4. The Colonels came back to win the sec- ond game 5-2, but the third and deciding game went to Iacksonville, 23-3. as they got 27 hits off the Colonel pitching staff. Even as the conference runner-up, the Colonels received an NCAA invitation to the South Central Regional playoffs, the third time in the past four years. Facing Delta State, 36-14, the three-game playoff system worked against the Colonels. Nicholls lost the first game 7-4. won the sec- ond 5-3, but lost the deciding game 10-0. Delta State went on to upset Number 1 ranked Eckard College to finish third in the Division II World Series. With a 28-22 overall record, the Colonels collected a number of post-season honors and surprises. Gary McDonnell, a senior from Metairie, was drafted in the 20th round by the Seattle Mariners, a professional expansion team. McDonnell won the team batting champion- ship, with a .373 batting average and led the team with 53 hits, 69 total bases and 21 sto- len bases. Two seniors were named to the all-con- ference team. Mike Mulligan, named for the third straight year, allowed only one stolen base in 50 games and hit .281. Keil North, the team's most valuable player, compiled a 9-4 won-loss record while completing 10 games. For the Western All-Division team, McDonnell and sophomore shortstop Tim Richard were selected. McDonnell was named as an outfielder and Richard as util- ity infielder. For the 1978 season, the Colonels will have 23 players returning, losing only one starting pitcher. With a year's experience past, including the pressures of both confer- ence and national playoffs, the Colonels will have another chance for a title. After all, it should happen. lt will be an even- numbered year. Coach C. Calmes waves Robert loseph home from third base on a base hit against Southem University. Baseball 109

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