Feb. 20, 2010

Final Stats

MOBILE, Ala. - The Nicholls State University softball team split day two of USA Invitational, defeating Belmont 9-5 in the first game and falling 3-1 to UAB in the second contest at Jaguar Field.

In the first contest, Nicholls used a four-run third inning to take a 6-1 lead that the squad never relinquished to go on to win 9-5. The four runs in the inning came courtesy of RBI singles by senior Lyndsay Mesh and junior Tori Lay, while sophomore Kayla Watterson capped off the scoring with a two RBI double down the left field line.

After Belmont scored one in the top of the fourth, the Colonels (2-1) tacked on another in the bottom half with a RBI single up the middle by Mesh that scored sophomore Megan Gaspard from third. Gaspard fueled the inning with a single.

Nicholls added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth, giving the club a 9-2 advantage heading into the final frame. Belmont scored three runs in the top frame, coming as close as 9-5 at a comeback bid before senior Audrey Wood recorded the final out to improve to 1-0 on the season.

Wood went the distance, allowing five runs - only two earned - on nine hits, and fanned six in the process. The Lawton, Okla. native also went 2-for-4 with a run and a RBI in the win.

Leading Nicholls at the plate was Mesh with a 3-for-4 showing that included three RBI, while Watterson and Gaspard each had multi-hit performances.

In the second game, Nicholls fell 3-1 to UAB as true freshman Ashton Bennett got her first action in the circle on the collegiate level. The loss was credited to her as she went a total of four innings, yielding three runs on five hits while recording five strike outs. Senior Lacey Gros came on to toss the final two innings, giving up no runs on one hit.

The Colonels lone run in the game came in the first via a Wood solo homerun. The solo-homer marked Nicholls' fourth homerun on the season.

Nicholls will finish off the USA Invitational tomorrow with a 10 a.m. clash against Belmont.

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