Feb. 17, 2008

Box Score

Baton Rouge, La. - The Colonels avenged their loss to Chattanooga earlier in the Easton Tiger Classic with a 15-3 thumping to get to the championship game against No.7 LSU, which Nicholls lost 9-2 to finish second in the tournament.

Senior Kathyrn Harrell, junior Kodi Butler and sophomore Audrey Wood were named to the all-tournament team as Nicholls finished the weekend 3-3 with two of their losses against No.7 LSU.

"I thought that we played a little shaky in the first day, but the team really responded and found a groove to get to the championship," said head coach Jenny Parsons.

In the first game against the Mocs, Nicholls jumped on top early as they scored four runs in the top of the first. The scoring got started with a double by senior Amy Thibodeaux to center field that scored Butler who doubled in her at bat. Senior Rachel Pugh was hit by a pitch after Thibodeaux's double and junior Danielle Clayton smacked one over the center field fence that scored three. It was only Clayton's third hit of the 2008 season and first homerun.

Both teams added a run in the second inning, while the Mocs also put two more on the scoreboard in the third to make the score 5-3 with three complete.

The Colonels responded over the next two innings as they pumped out 10 runs that included eight in the top of the fifth. In the top of the fifth, Nicholls took advantage of the Mocs' misfortunes pitching and scored all their runs on only four hits. The Mocs hit a batter, had an illegal pitch, tossed two wild pitches, and had a walk in the inning.

For the game against the Mocs, Nicholls' Clayton put together her best performance of the season at the plate as she went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, two runs scored, and homerun. Also having a multi-hit game against Chattanooga was Thibodeaux with a 2-for-3 showing and three RBIs while Harrell also put together a 2-for-4 effort with two runs scored. Rounding out the Colonels multi-hit performers was sophomore Nicole Smith with her 2-for-4 day and two RBIs.

Getting the win in the circle was Wood who threw five innings, striking out five, and only allowing three runs, two of which were earned. It was her second win of the season in the circle.

In Nicholls' game against the No.7 ranked LSU Tigers, Harrell led off the game with a triple down the right field line. Butler followed up with a walk, and then stole second, which LSU's Roessner committed a throwing error that allowed Harrell to score.

The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of third when the Tigers scored four runs on four hits to take a 4-1 lead. The Colonels failed to retaliate with any runs of their own while LSU put two more on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth and fifth to make it an 8-1 game through four complete innings of play.

Nicholls added a run in the top of the sixth on a double by Thibodeaux that brought home Butler who led off the inning with a walk. The Tigers added one more in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 9-2 which was the final in the game.

Nicholls will be back in action this weekend in the Mercer Wingate Inn Classic in Macon, Ga. with their first game on Friday against Austin Peay at noon.

Easton Tiger Classic All-Tournament Team

Abby Gross, Ball State

Michelle Fuzzard, Chattanooga

Kathyrn Harrell, Nicholls State

Kodi Butler, Nicholls State

Audrey Wood, Nicholls State

Dani Hofer, LSU

Tayl'r Hollis, LSU

Quinlan Duhon, LSU

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