Final Stats

THIBODAUX – Junior Ashton Bennett went pitch-for-pitch against two of the top pitchers in the Southland Conference and also provided the game's only run as the Nicholls State University softball team notched a series split against first-place Texas State with a 1-0 victory on Sunday afternoon.

With the win, Nicholls (8-21, 4-4) upped its Southland record to .500 after winning four of its last five conference games. Texas State (22-12, 8-2) saw its stay atop the standings short-lived as they had its six-game winning streak snapped and fell a game behind McNeese State in the loss column.

After being held hitless through the first time through the lineup, the Colonels finally got a hit off Texas State's Anne Marie Taylor in the fourth on an infield single by Ashley Bertot. However in the fifth, Nicholls tagged Taylor for four hits to take the lead.

Leah Andrus led off the frame with a double to right center and moved to third on a groundout. Bennett, who picked up her second shutout of the season in the circle, slapped a single to center to put Nicholls up 1-0. After a base hit by Rachel Moore, the Colonels tried to add another run on a single by pinch-hitter Rachael Hugghins, but a perfect throw to home from the center fielder kept the Texas State deficit at one.

After giving up two of her four hits on the day in the fourth inning, Bennett (4-7) responded with back-to-back 1-2-3 innings to setup a dramatic final frame.

Following a leadoff walk, the Bobcats moved runners into scoring position on a single and an error with one out. Bennett forced a popout for out No. 2 before pitching around Selena Hernandez, who had one of the Bobcats' four hits, to load the bases. The next batter, Brooke Baker, hit a slow chopper back to Bennett, who zipped it back to Paige Miller at home for a force out, giving the Colonels its fourth SLC win of the year.

The Colonels finished with six hits on the day, with Kat Angeles adding a single in the sixth.

Taylor (10-6) took the loss, striking out two in five innings of work. Yesterday's winning pitcher, Chandler Hall, gave up a hit in an inning of relief.

The Colonels will play their next eight games on the road, starting on Tuesday at South Alabama. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.