BATON ROUGE, La.  – The Nicholls State University softball team defeated Southern University for the second time in the past week as Ashton Bennett and Hannah Haydel combined for a one-hitter to lead Nicholls to a 9-3 win Wednesday at Lady Jaguars Field.

Bennett (2-1) picked up the win, tossing six innings with seven strikeouts. Bennett's lone hit came in the third when Southern took advantage of two Colonel errors to plate three runs, tying the game at 3-3.

Nicholls jumped out to the 3-0 lead in the first inning, started on a RBI single by Danielle Phillips, who brought home Ashley Bertot. Brittany Marcet then gave Nicholls a three-run cushion with a two-run double to left.

The Colonels had a chance to break open the game in the third, but left three runners stranded. One-out singles by Leah Andrus and Marcet started the threat before a fielder's choice loaded the bases. Southern ended the frame by forcing a flyout to short and an infield grounder.

After the Lady Jaguars (0-5) tied the game in the third, both offenses went hitless over the next two frames. In the sixth, Camille Rozas broke the tie with a RBI single to center before the Colonels tacked on two more to lead 6-3.

In the final inning, Nicholls added three insurance runs, getting the first two on a triple by Courtney Vanlandingham and a double by Haley Parkerson. Nicholls scored its last run off an infield flyout by Phillips.

With a six-run lead, Haydel pitched a perfect seventh to preserve the win.

Marcet led the Colonels at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs. Phillips also drove in two and scored twice.

The Colonels are back in action this weekend in the Purple and Gold Challenge, hosted by LSU. Saturday, Nicholls faces North Dakota State and Memphis, followed by matchups on Sunday against Virginia and LSU. All four games will be broadcast live on ThibodauxOnline.com.