Final Stats

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Nicholls State University softball team scored two runs in the opening frame, but UTSA answered with five runs in its at-bat and the Roadrunners never relinquished the lead, earning a series split with an 11-3 victory in six innings on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.

Nicholls (13-28, 7-9) slips back to 2.0 games behind UTSA (21-25, 10-8) in the Southland Conference standings for the sixth and final spot for the SLC Tournament. The Colonels are scheduled to make up their series against UT Arlington on Sunday with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Nicholls finished the game with eight hits, led by Leah Andrus and Megan Gaspard with two each. Gaspard, a four-year starter, reached 200 career hits after her second hit of the day, an infield single in the third. Both of Andrus' hits were doubles and the junior drove in two runs on the day.

Ashton Bennett (7-9) suffered the loss in the circle, giving up six earned runs in four innings of work. Bennett surrendered nine hits on the day, including a pair of home runs. Katie Moulder threw 1.1 innings of relief, giving up three earned runs on five hits.

The Colonels got off to a promising start, plating two runs in the opening frame. Gaspard drove in the first run on a single to left and would come around to score on Andrus' first double of the game.

UTSA quickly answered after the first four batters reached base, capped on a two-run single by Caitlyn Ivy. With two on and no outs, Nikki Goff hit a three-run shot to center, putting UTSA up 5-2.

Nicholls made it a two-run game in the third after Andrus' RBI double, but UTSA got the run back in the bottom half on a leadoff homer. Over the next three innings, the Roadrunners would gradually expand the lead before winning by mercy-rule in the sixth on a bases loaded single, making the final 11-3.

Following Sunday's doubleheader at UTA, the Colonels will close out the regular season next weekend at the Colonel Softball Complex against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.