Box score

THIBODAUX – After setting the Nicholls State University softball single-game record with three home runs on Tuesday, Ashley Ray hit her 15th home run to break the Colonel single-season record; however, Nicholls gave up three runs in the top of the seventh as Southeastern Louisiana University avoided the sweep with a 5-4 victory in Wednesday's series finale at the Colonel Softball Complex.

The Colonels (11-34, 4-19 SLC) went into the seventh with a 3-2 lead, but three straight singles to leadoff the inning knotted the game at 3-all. After SLU's Katie Matthew was hit by a pitch to load the bases, a costly throwing error to home play allowed two runs to score, putting the Lady Lions (20-25, 10-14 SLC) up 5-3.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Ray hit her fourth homer of the series with a solo shot to left to bring the Colonels within one. Mandy Granger drew a walk in the next at-bat, but SLU's Kenna Terry retired the next two to earn a complete game victory.

Nicholls finished with nine hits, led by Granger, Ray and Tori Lay – all finishing with two hits. Megan Gaspard, Whitney Roan and Lauren Jolivette rounded out the leaders with a hit each.

Ashton Bennett (6-17) suffered the loss, pitching 4.0 innings with two strikeouts. She gave up one earned on three hits. Katie Moulder started in the circle, pitching 3.0 innings with two earned on five hits.

The Colonels jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, scoring two on RBI singles from Granger and Lay. Nicholls added its third run on Granger's single as Ray scored from first on an error by the Lady Lions.

SLU plated two runs in the third, scoring on an RBI double from Katie Duhe who then scored on a single by Matthews.

Bennett came into the game to pitch in the fourth, and both hurlers kept the game scoreless through the next three innings. However,in the seventh, the Colonels' late inning bad luck continued as the Lady Lions plated three in their final at-bat en route to a 5-4 triumph.

Terry (7-5) picked up the win, giving up three earned on nine hits. The Lady Lions were led on offense by Duhe with three hits and two RBIs while her sister, Michelle, added two hits.

Nicholls reaches the midway point of its seven-game home stand when the Colonels host Southern University at the Colonel Softball Complex on Thursday at 6 p.m. Live stats and live audio will be available courtesy of ThibodauxOnline.com and geauxcolonels.com.