April 5, 2008

Final Stats

Natchitoches, La. - Nicholls won both games at Northwestern State on Saturday 8-0 to get above .500 overall and in conference. Both teams will cap off the annual series tomorrow with a Noon contest.

The Colonels (21-20, 9-8) won the first game 8-0 behind a strong pitching performance from sophomore Audrey Wood who threw all five innings allowing only one hit while striking out two and walking two. Wood improved to a team best 6-2 on the season.

Providing the run support for the first game win was a combined team effort with the Colonels adding four runs in the first and four runs in the fourth.

The scoring started in the first inning when Wood helped her own cause with a three-run homerun to left center. Scoring on the three-run jack was senior Kat Harrell who singled in her at bat and junior Danielle Clayton who walked. The other run in the first inning came on a fielding error on a ground ball hit sophomore Nicole Smith to Demons' shortstop Cassandra Poncik that allowed sophomore Lacey Gros to score from second base for the Colonels to take a 4-0 lead.

The score remained that way until the fourth inning when Smith stole third and a throwing error by Demon catcher Leslie Johnson allowed her to score to make the score 5-0. True freshman Tori Lay then followed up with a RBI single to centerfield that scored senior Rachel Pugh from second base. After an infield single by junior Kodi Butler, Clayton hit a RBI single through the left side to score Lay from second. The Demons (7-33, 3-16) then loaded up the bases and changed pitchers, but senior Amy Thibodeaux drew a walk to bring home Butler to take the 8-0 lead.

The Demons failed to score for the reminder of the game, and the Colonels picked up the victory. Leading the Colonels at the plate was Harrell as she finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. Also having a hit in the win was Butler, Clayton, Smith, Wood and Lay.

The second game got underway much like the first as the Colonels cracked the scoreboard in the first inning to take the early 1-0 lead. Nicholls was able to go on top due to a double to left center by Butler who advanced to third on a wild pitch and later scored on an illegal pitch to take the lead.

Nicholls added more to their lead in the third inning when they scored four runs with the first coming off the bat of Clayton who hit a RBI single down the left field line to score Lay from second. Then Thibodeaux followed up with a two RBI single through the right side that scored Butler and Clayton for the Colonels to take the 4-0. The last and final run of the inning came in light of a RBI single by Smith that scored Thibodeaux to round out the four-run inning for the Colonels.

The sixth inning was another big stand for the Colonels as Thibodeaux and Smith hit back-to-back homeruns to lead off the inning. The final run of the inning and of the game came when Harrell hit a RBI single to right field sophomore Karla Troxler from second base to give Nicholls the 8-0 lead, which was good enough to seal the victory.

The Colonels had 12 hits in the second game as four players had two hits in the win. Harrell and Butler each went 2-for-4 with Harrell finishing with one RBI and Butler having two runs scored. Going 2-for-3 were Thibodeaux and Smith as each had a homerun with Thibodeaux having three RBIs and two runs and Smith having two RBIs and one run.

Picking up the win was Gros as she allowed only three hits and no runs through four innings of work. Gros had five strikeouts and two walks in improving to 6-3 on the season.

The Colonels and Demons will pick up play tomorrow at Noon to cap off the series.

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