# 2024 Nicholls Colonels baseball team

The 2024 Nicholls Colonels baseball team represented Nicholls State University during the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Colonels played their home games at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field and were led by third–year head coach Mike Silva. They are members of the Southland Conference. The Colonels compiled a 38–22 overall record and a 16–8 record in conference play for a second-place finish. Qualifying for the SLC tournament as the 2nd seeded team, the Colonels defeated 7th seed Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 14–2$^7$; 6th seeded Southeastern Louisiana 5–4$^{10}$ and 4–3; and McNeese 15–1$^7$ to win the tournament championship and earn the conference auto–bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. As the 3rd seeded team in the Corvallis Regional, the Colonels fell to 2nd seeded UC Irvine 12–13 and Tulane 0–3.

## Previous season

The Colonels had an overall season record of 34–24 and a conference record of 15–9 winning the Southland Conference regular season championship. They participated in the 2023 Southland Conference baseball tournament as the first seeded team. The Colonels won the tournament championship with a 4–0 record defeating McNeese 3–2, Lamar 4–0, New Orleans 5–3 and New Orleans 6–3. Winning the Southland Conference autobid, the Colonels played in the 2023 NCAA Division I baseball tournament Tuscaloosa Regional. They lost to 16th ranked Alabama 3–4 in the first game. The Colonels' season ended with a loss to Boston College 6–14 in the second game.

## Preseason
### Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 8, 2024. Nicholls was picked to first in the Southland Conference with 126 overall votes and 14 first place votes.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Nicholls | 126 (14) |
| 2 | Lamar | 106 (1) |
| 3 | New Orleans | 92 (3) |
| 4 | Incarnate Word | 81 |
| 5 | McNeese | 67 |
| 6 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | 55 |
| 7 | Southeastern Louisiana | 53 |
| 8 | Northwestern State | 42 |
| 9 | Houston Christian | 26 |

### Preseason All-Southland team

Edgar Alvarez, MaCrae Kendrick, Parker Coddou, Issac Williams, and Gavin Galy were named to the conference preseason first team. Garrett Felix was named to the conference preseason second team.

#### First Team

* Edgar Alvarez* (NICH, SR, 1st Base)
* MaCrae Kendrick (NICH, SR, 2nd Base)
* Ethan Ruiz (LU, SR, 3rd Base)
* Parker Coddou* (NICH, SR, Shortstop)
* Miguel Useche (UNO, SR, Catcher)
* Rey Mendoza* (UIW, GR, Designated Hitter)
* Mitchell Sanford* (UNO, RJR, Outfielder)
* Samuel Benjamin* (HCU, SR, Outfielder)
* Issac Williams (UNO, SR, Outfielder)
* Jacob Mayers* (NICH, SO, Starting Pitcher)
* Brooks Caple* (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
* Hunter Hesseltine* (LU, JR, Starting Pitcher)
* Gavin Galy* (NICH, RJR, Relief Pitcher)
* Kanin Dodge (LU, SR, Utility)
*-2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

#### Second Team

* Cameron Crotte (UIW, SR, 1st Base)
* Austin Roccaforte (LU, SR, 2nd Base)
* Dylan Mach (UNO, SR, 3rd Base)
* Jake Haze* (SLU, GR, Shortstop)
* Bo Willis (NWST, SR, Catcher)
* River Orsak (LU, SR, Designated Hitter)
* Garrett Felix (NICH, SR, Outfielder)
* Cooper Hext (MCNS, SR, Outfielder)
* Christian Smith-Johnson (TAMUCC, SO, Outfielder)
* Chase Prestwich (NWST, JR, Starting Pitcher)
* Isaiah Zavala (UIW, GR, Starting Pitcher)
* Jacob Ellis (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
* Jackson Cleveland (LU, JR, Relief Pitcher)
* Isaiah Zavala (UIW, SR, Utility)
*-2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Nicholls win |
| | Nicholls loss |
| | Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions |
| Bold | Nicholls team member |
| * | Non-Conference game |
| † | Make-Up Game |
2024 Nicholls Colonels baseball game log :
Regular season (34–20) :
February (8–2) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record |
| Feb. 16 | Sacred Heart* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 16–0 | Desandro, Devin (1-0) | Jake Babuschak (0-1) | | ESPN+ | 502 | 1–0 |
| Feb. 17 | Sacred Heart* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 5–2 | Saltaformaggio, Nico (1-0) | Owen MacDonnell (0-1) | Luke, Haden (1) | | 311 | 2–0 |
| Feb. 18 | Sacred Heart* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 19–12 | Farley, Dylan (1-0) | Dan Rice (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 611 | 3–0 |
| Feb. 20 | at Tulane* | Greer Field at Turchin Stadium • New Orleans, LA | – | Henry Shuffler (1-0) | Desandro, Devin (1-1) | Trey Cehajic (2) | ESPN+ | 1,483 | 3–1 |
| Feb. 21 | Dillard* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 14–2 (7 inn) | Hill, Sam (1-0) | Gipson, Kaleb (0-1) | None | | 413 | 4–1 |
| Feb. 23 | Eastern Illinois* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 9–6 | Saltaformaggio, Nico (2-0) | CAREW, Christian (0-1) | Luke, Haden (2) | ESPN+ | 611 | 5–1 |
| Feb. 24 | Eastern Illinois* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 4–0 | Desandro, Devin (2-1) | CARTWRIGHT, Eli (0-1) | None | | 721 | 6–1 |
| Feb. 25 | Eastern Illinois* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 9–6 | Quevedo,Michael (1-0) | PERRENOUD, Casey (0-2) | Galy, Gavin (1) | ESPN+ | 750 | 7–1 |
| Feb. 27 | vs. Southern Miss* | MGM Park • Biloxi, MS | 6–5 | Saltaformaggio, Nico (3-0) | P2023 NCAA Division I baseball tournament participantsayne, Landen (0-1) | Guerrero, Michael (1) | | 3,013 | 8–1 |
| Feb. 28 | at South Alabama* | Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL | 10–11 (10 inn) | Moore, Leif (1-0) | Rodriguez, Arturo (0-1) | None | | 957 | 8–2 |
March (11–8) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Mar 1 | Southern* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 12–0 (7 inn) | Mayers, Jacob (1-0) | Ranard Grace (2-1) | None | | 215 | 9–2 | |
| Mar 2 | Southern* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 10–0 (7 inn) | Rodriguez, Arturo (1-1) | Antoine Harris (0-2) | None | | 411 | 10–2 | |
| Mar 3 | Southern* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 12–0 (7 inn) | Mayers, Jacob (1-0) | Ranard Grace (2-1) | None | | 215 | 11–2 | |
| Mar 5 | Tulane* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 12–14 | Jacob Moore (1-0) | Saltaformaggio, Nico (3-1) | Trey Cehajic (3) | | 655 | 11–3 | |
| Mar 6 | Southeastern Baptist* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 10–0 (7 inn) | Hill, Sam (2-0) | Reynolds, Ryley (0-1) | Fields, Nick (1) | | 222 | 12–3 | |
| Mar 6 | Southeastern Baptist* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 13–1 (7 inn) | Richter, Chase (1-0) | Nicholson, Jonathan (0-1) | None | | 222 | 13–3 | |
| Mar 9 | Grambling* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 13–2 (8 inn) | Mayers, Jacob (2-0) | Randy Reyes (0-1) | None | | 304 | 14–3 | |
| Mar 9 | Grambling* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 24–12 (7 inn) | Galy, Gavin (1-0) | Mason Martinez (2-1) | None | | 304 | 15–3 | |
| Mar 10 | Grambling* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 5–2 | Quevedo, Michael (3-0) | Phillip Bryant (0-2) | Desandro, Devin (1) | | 413 | 16–3 | |
| Mar 12 | Dillard* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 9–3 | Hill, Sam (3-0) | Gonzalez, Handel (0-1) | None | | 101 | 17–3 | |
| Mar 15 | at Nebraska* | Haymarket Park • Lincoln, NE | 6–7 | Borst, Evan (2-0) | Farley, Dylan (1-1) | Daiss, Casey (4) | | 4,268 | 17–4 | |
| Mar 16 | at Nebraska* | Haymarket Park • Lincoln, NE | 0–16 | Sears, Brett (3-0) | Nelson, Jack (0-1) | Worthley, Jalen (1) | | 4,658 | 17–5 | |
| Mar 17 | at Nebraska* | Haymarket Park • Lincoln, NE | 4–11 | Brockett, Jackson (1-0) | Desandro, Devin (2-2) | None | | 4,186 | 17–6 | |
| Mar 20 | Louisiana Tech* | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 4–6 | Smith,Reed (1-2) | Saltaformaggio, Nico (3-2) | Bates,Ethan (6) | ESPN+ | 439 | 17–7 | |
| Mar 22 | New Orleans | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 1–4 | Mercer, Colton (2-3) | Saltaformaggio, Nico (3-3) | Blasick, Nathan (1) | ESPN+ | 688 | 17–8 | 0–1 |
| Mar 23 | New Orleans | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 11–12 | Delorbe, Ryan (2-1) | Luke, Haden (0-1) | Calloway, Bryce (1) | | 655 | 17–9 | 0–2 |
| Mar 24 | New Orleans | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 5–8 | Seroski, Caleb (3-1) | Rodriguez, Arturo (1-2) | Blasick, Nathan (2) | | 501 | 17–10 | 0–3 |
| Mar 28 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 7–3 | Nelson, Jack (1-1) | Watson, Matthew (1-4) | Desandro, Devin (2) | ESPN+ | 230 | 18–10 | 1–3 |
| Mar 29 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 13–8 | Moran, Dallis (1-0) | Hill, Jack (1-2) | None | | 233 | 19–10 | 2–3 |
| Mar 30 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 11–4 | Guerrero, Michael (1-0) | Feltz, Samuel (2-1) | None | | 252 | 20–10 | 3–3 |
April (7–6) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss2023 NCAA Division I baseball tournament participants | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Apr 2 | at Louisiana* | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | 3–13 (7 inn) | Jack Martinez (3-2) | Farley, Dylan (1-2) | David Christie (2) | ESPN+ | 3,546 || |
| Apr 5 | at Southeastern Louisiana | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 8–7 (11 inn) | Desandro, Devin (3-2) | Polk, Lakin (4-1) | None | ESPN+ | 1,420 | 21–11 | 4–3 |
| Apr 6 | at Southeastern Louisiana | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 7–3 | Guerrero, Michael (2-0) | Lee, Dakota (0-3) | None | ESPN+ | 1,409 | 22–11 | 5–3 |
| Apr 7 | at Southeastern Louisiana | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 9–5 | Quevedo, Michael (4-0) | Kinzeler, Will (1-3) | Galy, Gavin (2) | ESPN+ | 1,337 | 23–11 | 6–3 |
| Apr 12 | Northwestern State | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | – | Bunch, Caleb (2-0) | Galy, Gavin (1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 731 | 23–12 | 6–4 |
| Apr 13 | Northwestern State | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 10–11 | Newton, Aidan (1-3) | Desandro, Devin (3-3) | Bryan, Tyler (4) | ESPN+ | 804 | 23–13 | 6–5 |
| Apr 14 | Northwestern State | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 13–5 | Quevedo, Michael (5-0) | Marionneaux, Dylan (2-6) | None | ESPN+ | 800 | 24–13 | 7–5 |
| Apr 16 | at Southern Miss* | Pete Taylor Park • Hattiesburg, MS | 6–9 | Mazza, Niko (6-2) | Saltaformaggio, Nico (3-4) | None | ESPN+ | 5,211 | 24–14 | |
| Apr 19 | at Houston Christian | Husky Field • Houston, TX | 14–2 (7 inn) | Mayers, Jacob (3-0) | Coronel, Ethan (0-3) | None | ESPN+ | 337 | 25–14 | 8–5 |
| Apr 20 | at Houston Christian | Husky Field • Houston, TX | 9–6 | Desandro, Devin (4-3) | Willard, Nicholas (2-4) | Saltaformaggio, Nico (1) | | 273 | 26–14 | 9–5 |
| Apr 21 | at Houston Christian | Husky Field • Houston, TX | 6–5 (12 inn) | Farley, Dylan (2-2) | Shoffner, Brock (0-1) | None | | 115 | 27–14 | 10–5 |
| Apr 23 | at LSU* | Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field • Baton Rouge, LA | 0–9 | Kade Anderson (4-1) | Desandro, Devin (4-4) | None | SECN+ | 10,465 | 27–15 | |
| Apr 24 | at Louisiana Tech* | J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park • Ruston, LA | 7–10 | Havern,J (3-2) | Hill, Sam (3-1) | Bates,E (12) | ESPN+ | 1,742 | 27–16 | |
| Apr 30 | at Southern* | Lee–Hines Field • Baton Rouge, LA | 12–4 | Rodriguez, Arturo (2-2) | P. Huff (0-1) | None | | 211 | 28–16 | |
May (6–4) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| May 3 | at Incarnate Word | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | 6–7 | Salinas, Josh (5-1) | Mayers, Jacob (3-1) | Byrd, Adam (3) | ESPN+ | 97 | 28–17 | 10–6 |
| May 4 | at Incarnate Word | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | 7–6 | Saltaformaggio, Nico (4-4) | Johnson, Dave (4-3) | None | ESPN+ | 117 | 29–17 | 11–6 |
| May 5 | at Incarnate Word | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | 10–7 | Desandro, Devin (5-4) | Walls, Westin (2-5) | None | ESPN+ | 115 | 30–17 | 12–62023 NCAA Division I baseball tournament participants |
| May 7 | at Houston* | Schroeder Park • Houston, TX | 4–5 | LaCalameto, Kyle (3-3) | Richter, Chase (1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 985 | 30–18 | |
| May 10 | Lamar | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 5–4 (11 inn) | Saltaformaggio, Nico (5-4) | Havard, Peyton (2-3) | None | ESPN+ | 833 | 31–18 | 13–6 |
| May 11 | Lamar | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 7–9 (11 inn) | Neal, Austin (3-1) | Rodriguez, Arturo (2-3) | None | ESPN+ | 667 | 31–19 | 13–7 |
| May 12 | Lamar | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 3–0 | Saltaformaggio, Nico (6-4) | Hesseltine, Hunter (6-2) | None | ESPN+ | 608 | 32–19 | 14–7 |
| May 16 | McNeese | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 4–3 | Mayers, Jacob (4-1) | Zach Voss (1-5) | Saltaformaggio, Nico (2) | ESPN+ | 505 | 33–19 | 15–7 |
| May 17 | McNeese | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 10–3 | Desandro, Devin (6-4) | Alexis Gravel (1-4) | None | | 501 | 34–19 | 16–7 |
| May 18 | McNeese | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 6–10 | Cameron LeJeune (W, 7-2) | Hill, Sam (L, 3-2) | None | ESPN+ | 613 | 34–20 | 16–8 |
Post-season (4–2) :
Southland Tournament (4–0) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 22 | vs. (7) Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | (2) | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 14–2 (7 inn) | Mayers, Jacob (5-1) | Garcia, Zach (4-3) | None | ESPN+ | | 35–20 | 1–0 |
| May 23 | at (6) Southeastern Louisiana | (2) | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 5–4 (10 inn) | Saltaformaggio, Nico (7-4) | Polk, Lakin (5-4) | None | ESPN+ | 1,590 | 36–20 | 2–0 |
| May 24 | at (6) Southeastern Louisiana | (2) | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 4–3 | Rodriguez, Arturo(3-3) | Lauve, Lance(1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 2,232 | 37–20 | 3–0 |
| May 25 | vs. (5) McNeese | (2) | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 15–1 (7 inn) | Farley, Dylan(3-2) | Zach Voss(2-6) | None | ESPN+ | 1,198 | 38–20 | 4–0 |
NCAA Tournament Corvallis Regional (0–2) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 31 | vs. (2) UC Irvine | (3) | Goss Stadium at Coleman Field • Corvallis, OR | 12–13 | Utagawa, David (3-0) | Desandro, Devin (6-5) | None | ESPN+ | 3,893 | 38–21 | 0–1 |
| Jun 1 | (4) Tulane | (3) | Goss Stadium at Coleman Field • Corvallis, OR | 0–3 | Luc Fladda(5-3) | Quevedo, Michael(5-1) | Jacob Moore (6) | ESPN+ | 3,869 | 38–22 | 0–2 |
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Canceled Bold = Nicholls team member Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll. :
    Schedule Source:

## Conference awards and honors
### 2024 All-Southland Conference team

Source:
Edgar Alvarez was named conference Player of the Year. Nico Saltaformaggio was named conference Relief Pitcher of the Year. Edgar Alvarez and Nico Saltaformaggio were also named to the All-Southland Conference first team. Parker Coddou, Basiel Williams, and Drake Anderson were named as second team members. Edgar Alvarez was also named to the All-conference Defensive team.

#### First Team

* Miguel Useche (UNO, SR, Catcher)
* Edgar Alvarez (NICH, SR, 1st Base)
* Isaac Webb (TAMUCC, RJR, 2nd Base)
* TJ Salvaggio (SLU, JR, Shortstop)
* Shea Thomas (SLU, SR, 3rd Base)
* Mitchell Sanford (UNO, RJR, Outfielder)
* Samuel Benjamin (HCU, SR, Outfielder)
* Cooper Hext (MCN, SR, Outfielder)
* Dalton Beck (UIW, JR, Designaterd Hitter)
* Bryce Calloway (UNO, JR, Utility)
* Brooks Caple (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
* Colton Mercer (UNO, JR, Starting Pitcher)
* Brennan Stuprich (SLU, RJR, Starting Pitcher)
* Nico Saltaformaggio (NICH, SR, Relief Pitcher)

#### Second Team

* Zak Skinner (LU, JR, Catcher)
* Brayden Evans (LU, JR, 1st Base)
* Diego Villescas (UNO, JR, 2nd Base)
* Parker Coddou (NICH, JR, Shortstop)
* Sebastian Trinidad (TAMUCC, SR, 3rd Base)
* Reese Lipoma (NWST, JR, Outfielder)
* Basiel Williams (NICH, RSR, Outfielder)
* Cameron Caley (UIW, SR, Outfielder)
* River Orsak (LU, SR, Designaterd Hitter)
* Drake Anderson (NICH, JR, Utility)
* Matthew Watson (TAMUCC, RJR, Starting Pitcher)
* Jacob Ellis (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
* Hunter Hesseltine (LU, JR, Starting Pitcher)
* Caleb Bunch (NWST, JR, Relief Pitcher)

#### 2024 All-Southland Defensive team

* Miguel Useche (UNO, JR, Catcher)
* Edgar Alvarez (NICH, SR, 1st Base)
* Dalton Hurst (UNO, JR, 2nd Base)
* Kanin Dodge (LU, SR, Shortstop)
* Rocco Gump (NWST, JR, 3rd Base)
* Cooper Hext (MCN, SR, Left Fielder)
* Conner Westenburg (MCN, JR, Center Fielder)
* Mitchell Sanford (UNO, SR, Right Fielder)
* Cameron LeJeune (MCN, RJR, Pitcher)

### Weekly awards

Weekly honors :
| Honors | Player | Position | Date Awarded |
| SLC Hitter of the Week | Edgar Alvarez | 1B | February 19, 2024 |
| SLC Hitter of the Week | Garrett Felix | INF | April 8, 2024 |
| SLC Pitcher of the Week | Nico Saltaformaggio | LHP | May 6, 2024 |
| SLC Pitcher of the Week | Nico Saltaformaggio | LHP | May 14, 2024 |