March 18, 2009

Final Stats

THIBODAUX, La. - It was a shaky start for the Colonels, committing two errors and giving up a run in the first inning, but junior Lyndsay Mesh erased that deficit in the bottom of the sixth with a two RBI double to lift Nicholls to a 2-1 victory over Texas State on Wednesday afternoon at the Colonel Softball Complex.

"After the first inning, I told the team that we have to keep our composure and forget about that inning. I was proud that they were able to forget about it and never lose their cool," said head coach Jenny Parsons.

"Texas State is one of the top-40 teams in the nation in my opinion, and to get this series win over them really says a lot about our team and the direction we are heading."

The Colonels (21-11, 11-4) and Bobcats (19-11, 11-4) each turned in four hits, while Nicholls had two errors to Texas State's one. Nicholls' two errors were the first two plays of the game, as true freshman Megan Gaspard dropped a pop fly in left field, and, on the ensuing play, true freshman Kayla Watterson had a ball slip out of her glove at third base. The two errors led to a run, which was unearned, giving the Bobcats the 1-0 advantage after one complete.

The score remained in favor of the Bobcats until the bottom of the sixth when Mesh hit a two RBI double to left center that scored true freshman Kara Harrington from second and Clayton all the way from first. Mesh's at bat was made possible due to a throwing error by Bobcat second baseman Ryan Kos that took Leah Boatright's foot off the bag to allow Clayton to reach safely. The out would have ended the inning.

Texas State failed to score in the top of the seventh, giving Nicholls the 2-1 victory and the series victory. With the win the Colonels now stand tied with the Bobcats for first place in the Southland Conference, holding the tiebreaker with the series win.

Picking up the win was junior Audrey Wood as she improved to 11-5 on the season. Wood allowed only one run on four hits, and for the first time all season, did not record a strikeout. Texas State's Chandler Hall got the loss, falling to 12-5 on the season while only yielding two runs, both unearned, and striking out seven.

Leading the Colonels at the plate was Mesh, going 1-for-3 with what proved to be the game winning two-RBI double in the sixth. Senior Kodi Butler turned in the contest's only multi-hit performance, finishing 2-for-2.

Nicholls will have the weekend off, and will resume play on Saturday March 28 at Houston Baptist. The Colonels will not pick up conference action again until April 4 when they travel to take on Texas-San Antonio.

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