Feb. 13, 2009

Final Stats

LAFAYETTE, La. - The Colonels started off the 23rd Annual Louisiana Classic the right way with a 3-1 victory in 10 innings over Big East Conference member Providence on Friday afternoon.

Both teams went into extra innings scoreless, before Nicholls (5-2) put one on the scoreboard in the top of the ninth via a RBI double to left center by true freshman Kayla Watterson that brought home true freshman Kara Harrington from second. Harrington was running for junior Lyndsay Mesh who reached on an infield error.

Providence (0-1) responded in the bottom half of the inning with a run of their own to keep the game going to the 10th. Justine Stratton did the honor of hitting a RBI double that scored Jenna Garcia from first to extend the game. Garcia, who scored from first, was hit by a pitch in her at bat.

However, the Colonel bats came alive again in the top of the tenth, putting two more runs in the books to take the 3-1 lead. Senior Haley Burkett led off the inning with a solo homerun over the left field wall, and then sophomore Whitney Roan, who singled in her at bat, scored later on in the inning via a throwing error.

Junior Lacey Gros gave up a single to start the bottom of the tenth, but then got a fly out and let her defense close out the game with a 5-4-3 double play. Gros threw all 10 innings, fanning nine, spraying four hits and giving up only one run. She improved to 4-1 on the season with the win.

Leading the Colonels at the plate was senior Kodi Butler with a 2-for-4 showing, while Watterson and Burkett each had a hit and a RBI in the win.

Nicholls will resume action in the tournament tomorrow at 2 p.m. against Lipscomb.

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