Box vs UMKC
Box vs Belmont

SOUTHAVEN, Miss.  – The Nicholls State University softball team bounced back from its first mercy-rule defeat of the season, a 16-3 loss to Missouri-Kansas City in Sunday's opener, with a 3-2 victory against Belmont to close out play in the Blues City Classic at Greenwood Park.

With the split, Nicholls finishes the tournament with a 3-1 record, moving its overall record to 7-7.

Against Belmont (6-5), the Colonels plated three runs in the first inning and Ashton Bennett took care of the rest as the senior pitched a complete game for her fifth victory of the season.

The Colonels jumped all over starter Belmont Mia Verra in the first, tagging her for three hits as Nicholls took a quick 2-0 lead. Ashley Bertot led off the frame with a base hit before stealing second, and then scored on a groundout by Haley Parkerson. Following a single by Brittany Marcet, Bennett drove in the Colonels' second run with a base hit. Belmont went to the bullpen with only one out, but Maggie Bryan made the score 3-0 on the fourth hit of the inning.

In the first three innings, Bennett (5-2) surrendered at least one hit, but it wasn't until the third that Belmont cracked the scoring column. With two outs, Belmont made the score 3-2 after back-to-back doubles and a triple.

The Bruins threatened in the fourth after a leadoff triple, however; Bennett left the runner stranded with three straight outs, including one of her two strikeouts on the day. In the final two innings, Nicholls turned a double play in the sixth to stifle a leadoff single before Bennett worked a perfect seventh to close out the game.

In Sunday's opener against UMKC (6-7), the 'Roos belted 18 hits and scored at least three runs in four of five innings as they cruised to a mercy rule victory.

The Colonels managed five hits, getting two each from seniors Bertot and Leah Andrus. Freshman Camille Rozas also had a hit, driving in a run in the Colonels' three-run third which made the score 10-3 UMKC.

Nicholls looked to stave off the mercy rule after a scoreless fourth until the 'Roos exploded for sixth runs on six hits in their next at-bat. Andrus added a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth before UMKC picked up a strikeout to end the game.

Hannah Haydel (2-3) took the loss, giving up 10 earned run on nine hits in two innings of work. Katie Moulder also gave up nine hits, surrendering five earned in three innings.

Nicholls returns to action next weekend in the Magic City Classic in Birmingham, Ala. The Colonels open up against UAB on March 1 at 2:30 p.m.

Blues City Classic All-Tournament First Team
Belmont - Kat Holingsworth
Indiana State - Ashlie Scott
Memphis - Ellen Roberts
Memphis - Lelani Bernardino
Mississippi State - Alison Owen
Mississippi State - Sam Lenahan
Nicholls - Ashton Bennett
Samford - Mollie Hanson
UMKC - Liz Broyles
UMKC - Katie Kelley
Wichita State - Melanie Jaegers

Blues City Classic All-Tournament Second Team
Detroit - Sara Cupp
Indiana State - Shelby Wilson
Memphis - Jordan Richwood
Mississippi State - Stephanie Becker
Nicholls - Leah Andrus
Samford - Alex Adams
SEMO - Taylor Cowan
SIU-Edwardsville - Erin Greenwalt
UMKC - Emily Ott
Wichita State - Megan McCracken
Wright State - Krystian DeWitt

Blues City Classic Standings
1. Memphis - 3-0
2. UMKC - 4-1
T3. Samford - 3-1
T3. Mississippi State - 3-1
T3. Nicholls - 3-1
T6. Wichita State - 2-2
T6. SIU-Edwardsville - 2-2
T8. Belmont - 1-3
T8. Indiana State - 1-3
T8. Wright State - 1-3
T11. Southeast Missouri - 1-4
T11. Detroit - 1-4