May 2, 2010

Final Stats

THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University softball team led 4-1 after four complete innings on a rainy Sunday afternoon in the Colonel Softball Complex, but committed four errors over the final two frames that led to a 14-5 loss in six innings to Stephen F. Austin.

The Colonels (24-18, 15-12 Southland) gave up a total of 13 runs to the Lady Jacks (25-17, 18-9 Southland) in the fifth and sixth innings, leading to the loss. Nicholls also committed a total of five errors in the game.

Taking the loss in the circle on Senior Day was senior Lacey Gros as she tossed 4.1 innings and gave up six runs - all earned - on six hits. Nicholls then went to the services of junior Carlee Winkelmann and freshman Ashton Bennett for the remainder of the game.

Stephen F. Austin's Monkia Covington got the win the circle, her second of the weekend to improve to 12-9 on the year.

Nicholls struck the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first with RBI singles by sophomore Kayla Watterson and Bennett to take the early 2-0 advantage. The score would remain that way until the top of the fourth when the Lady Jacks' Kayla Gutowski homered over the centerfield wall to cut into the lead, 2-1.

The Colonels responded in the bottom half as sophomore Mandy Granger hit a rope up the middle that scored Bennett from second base. Bennett led off the inning with a standup double to left field. Nicholls added their second and final score in the inning on a passed ball that plated sophomore Lauren Martinez from third to give Nicholls the 4-1 lead.

However, the fifth and sixth innings were ones to forget for Nicholls as Stephen F. Austin pumped out a total of 13 runs on nine hits and four costly Colonel errors that put the game out of reach for a Nicholls comeback.

Leading Nicholls in the loss was Bennett with a 3-for-3 performance that included a double, a run and two RBI singles. On the weekend, Bennett was 8-for-10 at the plate. Granger was the only other Colonel to notch multiple hits, going 2-for-3 in the loss on Sunday.

Nicholls will travel to Sam Houston State to close out the regular season next weekend. The series is set to begin on Saturday with a doubleheader slated for 1 p.m.

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