March 4, 2008

Box Score

LAFAYETTE, La. - No. 18 Louisiana-Lafayette used a total of 21 hits between the two games to defeat Nicholls 11-3 in the first contest and 12-0 in the second at the Cajun Softball Park on Tuesday evening.

The Colonels (7-13) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning after the Cajuns (12-3) walked to runs in with the bases loaded. Both senior Kat Harrell and junior Kodi Butler scored in the first inning due to the walks.

Louisiana-Lafayette took the lead back in the bottom of the first as they scored three runs on one hit and one error. ULL's Melissa Verde got the scoring started when she hit a RBI double to center field, and Lana Bowers brought a run home on a fielder's choice. Verde came around to score on a bases loaded walk to give the Cajuns the 3-2 lead.

Harrell tied the game up in the top of the second with an opposite field homerun over the leftfield wall. The score remained tied until ULL put together a four-run third inning to take the lead and never look back as they proceed to add one in the fourth and three in the sixth to get the 11-3 victory.

Leading the Colonels in the game at the plate was Harrell as she went 1-for-1 with a homerun, two runs scored and a RBI. Also going 1-for-1 with a RBI was sophomore Audrey Wood, while junior Danielle Clayton and Butler each rung up 1-for-3 performances to round out Nicholls' hitters. Getting the loss in the circle was senior Krystalin Ensminger as she gave up seven runs (three earned) on five hits to fall to 3-6 on the year.

The second contest was ended with the mercy rule in five innings as the Cajuns defeated the Colonels 12-0. Nicholls lone hit in the loss came off the bat of Clayton in the first inning as she singled to the shortstop.

Tabbed with the loss in the circle was senior Jessica Barksdale as she had 1.1 innings of work. Barksdale allowed eight runs on seven hits in facing 12 batters as she fell to 0-4 on the season.

The Colonels will face off against No. 12 LSU on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Colonels Softball Complex. The game will be broadcasted on 105.9 FM KBZE and 640 AM KTIB with Associate Athletics Director Ken Berthelot proving play-by-play.

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