# SEC Baseball: South Alabama Jaguars Defeats Nicholls Colonels 7-5

**Published:** 2026-03-06 — **By:** Bailey Patterson
**Category:** games — **Type:** game-recap
**Source:** https://secscouts.com/news/south-alabama-jaguars-defeats-nicholls-colonels-7-5

**Teams:** [Alabama](https://secscouts.com/alabama/)


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THIBODAUX, La. (02/17/2026) — The South Alabama Jaguars held off a late surge from the Nicholls Colonels to secure a 7-5 victory on the road Tuesday night at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field.

### HOW IT HAPPENED
The Jaguars jumped out to an early lead, plating a run in the first inning when Stewart Puckett delivered an RBI single. South Alabama extended its advantage in the third inning as Duncan Mathews laced an RBI double, making it a 2-0 game.

Nicholls got on the board in the fourth with an RBI single from Clayton Pourciau to cut the deficit to 2-1. However, South Alabama's offense came alive in the middle innings. Michael Young launched a solo home run in the sixth, sparking a four-run frame for the Jaguars. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Puckett drove in two more runs with a single, pushing the South Alabama lead to 6-1. An Ethan Melton sacrifice fly in the seventh added another run for the Jaguars, making it 7-1.

The Colonels mounted a significant comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring four runs to tighten the contest. Keegan Giger provided the big hit with a three-run single that brought Nicholls within two runs at 7-5. However, the Jaguars' pitching staff was able to close the door in the ninth, preserving the win.

### TURNING POINT
The pivotal moment of the game was South Alabama's four-run sixth inning. After Nicholls had cut the lead to one, the Jaguars' offense responded decisively. Michael Young's solo home run ignited the rally, and Stewart Puckett's two-run single capped the inning, giving South Alabama a commanding 6-1 lead that proved just large enough to withstand the Colonels' late-game heroics.

### STAR OF THE GAME
Stewart Puckett was a key offensive force for the South Alabama Jaguars. His RBI single in the first inning gave the Jaguars a lead they would never relinquish, and his two-run single in the sixth inning proved to be the decisive blow, providing crucial insurance runs. Puckett's timely hitting was instrumental in South Alabama's victory.

### WHAT IT MEANS
For the South Alabama Jaguars, the road win provides a solid midweek victory and continues their early-season momentum. The ability of the offense to produce a big inning was a clear positive for the Jaguars as they head further into their non-conference schedule.

The Nicholls Colonels, despite the loss, showed resilience with their four-run eighth inning. The late-game rally could serve as a confidence builder for their offense as they continue to search for their first win of the season.

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*Original article: [SEC Baseball: South Alabama Jaguars Defeats Nicholls Colonels 7-5](https://secscouts.com/news/south-alabama-jaguars-defeats-nicholls-colonels-7-5) — SEC Scouts*