Box vs UAB
Box vs Samford

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  – The Nicholls State University softball team combined for only seven hits in the first day of the Magic City Classic as the Colonels fell in both games, losing 4-1 to UAB before falling 9-1 in six innings to Samford Friday at the UAB Softball Field.

Nicholls (7-9) will have one game on Saturday, playing Murray State at 10 a.m. The Racers were shutout in the Classic's first game, losing to South Alabama 1-0.

The Colonels recorded two hits in the loss to UAB, with seniors Ashley Bertot and Ashton Bennett having a single each. Bennett's base hit in the fourth led to Nicholls' lone run as she came in to score on an error, cutting the lead down to 2-1.

But the Colonels gave the run right back as UAB scored in the bottom half on an unearned run. UAB got a solo home run in the fifth before holding Nicholls hitless in the final two innings to win 4-1.

Hannah Haydel (2-4) took the loss, giving up two earned runs on five hits. The freshman tossed all six innings, striking out four while walking two.

In game two, Samford pulled away with a 5-run fifth inning and add two more in the bottom of the sixth for a walkoff mercy rule victory.

Senior Ashton Bennett (5-3) suffered her worst outing of the season, being tagged for eight earned runs on 12 hits. Samford belted four doubles and two home runs in 4.1 innings against Bennett.

Samford plated a run in each of the first two frames, scoring the second on an unearned run. Nicholls had two errors in the game, giving them five on the day.

After Samford's five runs in the fifth, Nicholls put together a rally, getting two hits in the top of the sixth. Maggie Bryan brought home a run on a sacrifice fly, but the Colonels would leave two stranded to end the inning. Samford tacked on two runs in its next at-bat to make the final 9-1.

Bennett and Bertot singled again for Nicholls, with Leah Andrus and Brittany Marcet adding one each. Danielle Phillips had the fifth hit, recording her fourth double of the season.