The Troy State baseball team defeated Nicholls State, 9-3, on Sunday in the final game of a three-game weekend series at Riddle-Pace Field. The victory put the Trojans on top 2-1 for the series.

Nicholls State (1-2) started off the scoring for the game in the first inning with a one-run home run by the leadoff batter Brad Dantonio.

Troy State (2-1) then answered the Colonels with a three-run second inning. Junior outfielder Josh Kendrick, who reached on single, scored the first run for the Trojans after advancing to second from a walk by Drew Miller, to third from a single by Collin Holder and coming home on an error by Nicholls State third baseman Luke Muller. The next run came from an RBI single by Tim Ellis, a native of Dothan, Ala., who scored Holder. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, advancing to second of Ellis’ single and reaching third off of single by catcher Lance Newman, freshman third baseman Casey O’Quinn scored the Trojans’ third run from throwing error by the Colonels’ shortstop.

After a scoreless third inning, the Colonels posted their second run in the fourth inning. First baseman Bryan Daigle reached on an error by O’Quinn and moved to third from a double by shortstop Chuck Hickman. Daigle was brought home to score after the next two batters were hit by pitches.

The Trojans scored the next three runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Designated hitter Wade Miller, a freshman from Ozark, Ala., started off the inning with his first collegiate home run to put Troy State up 4-2. O’Quinn and Holder, who both reached on walks, scored the other two runs in the inning for the Trojans.

The following inning, Nicholls State’s Kevin Larpenter doubled to left field and ended up scoring from a fielder’s choice.

In the seventh inning, Troy State’s Drew Miller singled through the right side, advanced to second from a hit by Kendrick, moved to third due to a balk by Nicholls State pitcher Eron Morrow, and came home on a wild pitch.

The final two runs of the game came in the bottom of the eighth for the Trojans when senior Ryan Petersen and junior Lance Newman scored off Nicholls State errors.

Freshman pitcher Eric Wikstrom (1-0) received the win for the Trojans. Wikstrom allowed seven hits and three runs, two of which were earned, in six innings on the mound. Relievers Shannon Posey and Shawn Andrews also made appearances for Troy State.

Nicholls State’s Ben Thompson suffered the loss allowing seven hits and six runs in five and one-third innings.

Troy State baseball continues its home schedule next Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a weekend series against East Tennessee State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. on Friday at Riddle-Pace Field.