March 20, 2010

Final Stats

THIBODAUX, Louisiana - After dropping two out of three games last weekend, the Nicholls State softball team regained their composure and got back on track by sweeping a double header Southland Conference matchup against Texas-Arlington 3-0 and 6-4. With the two wins the Colonels improved their record to 13-8 overall and 7-4 in league play, while the Mavericks dropped to 15-12 and 6-4.

"This was a huge momentum boost for us," said head coach Jenny Parsons. "We were able to come out to today and get the early lead in both games. We made a few mental errors but the big thing is we were able to overcome them and the team responded at the plate and in the mound. I am really pleased with the effort of how we played today."

The Colonels struck early in game one as Megan Gaspard led off the inning with an infield single. Nicholls took an early 1-0 lead on the very next play when Lyndsey Mesh doubled to left center scoring Gaspard. After Mesh moved to third on a groundout by Audrey Wood, Lauren Baitz was given a free base with a walk to give the Colonels runners at the corners. The Colonels increased their lead to 2-0 on a double steal with Mesh scoring.

The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the fifth inning when Laynie Strickland led off the inning with a single up the middle and later scored on a Mavericks error to give the Colonels a 3-0 lead.

That would all the Colonels would need as senior pitcher Lacey Gros dominated on the mound shutting down the Mavericks lineup. Gros, who improved her record to 6-3, pitched a complete game and allowed only four hits, only one of which was for extra bases, and fanned 11 in the process.

Teri Lyles picked up the loss for the Mavericks and fell to 7-6 on the season. Lyons pitched six innings and gave up five hits, three runs, two of which were earned, walked two and only struck out four.

The Colonels were led at the plate by Mesh who went 2-for-3 with an RBI double. In game two, the Colonels once again came out and gained an early lead. Gaspard led off the inning in the bottom of the first with a triple down the left field line. After Wood was issued a walk, Natalie Travasos came through with a single up the middle that scored Gaspard and advanced Wood to third to give the Colonels an early 1-0 lead. The Colonels added two more runs when Mandy Granger reached on an error by the Mavericks centerfielder which allowed both Wood and Travasos to score to give the Colonels a 3-0 lead.

The Mavericks would cut the lead to 3-1 by scoring one run in the top half of the second inning and drew closer in the top half of the third inning when Cara Hulme belted a solo homerun over deep center to cut the Colonels lead to 3-2.

Texas-Arlington took a 4-3 lead in the top half of the fourth inning by scoring two runs off, but the Colonels would respond in the bottom half of the sixth inning. With one out in the inning, Whitney Roan struck out but was able to reach first on a drop third strike by the Mavericks catcher. Whitney advanced to second on a sacrifice by Gaspard. Mesh tied the game at 4-4 with a two-out single up the middle scoring Roan. The Colonels would take the lead for good, 6-4, and capture the sweep on the very next batter when Wood belted a two-run homer over deep center. Carlee Winkelmann improved her record to 3-2 by picking up the win in relief of starter Audrey Wood. Lacey Gros picked up her second save on the season as she down the Mavericks in order in the top half of the seventh.

Cara Hulme dropped to 8-6 on the season giving up seven hits, six runs, only one of which was earned and struck out three.

Wood led the Colonels at the plate in game two going 2-for-3 with a homerun and two RBI's.

Rebecca Collom and Kari Karr led the Mavericks at the plate as each went 2-for-3.

These two teams will wrap up their three game Southland Conference series on Sunday, March 21 at 12 p.m. as the Colonels will go for the three game sweep.