Box Score

NATCHITOCHES, La.  – The Nicholls State University softball team found itself in a 5-0 hole after two innings of play at Northwestern State and the Lady Demons would go on to take the series with a 5-2 victory Sunday at Lady Diamond Field.

After two conference series, Nicholls (10-16) falls to 2-4 in Southland play, winning the opener in both matchups before dropping the next two. Northwestern State records its 20th victory of the season, improving to 20-6 overall and 2-3 in conference.

Both teams finished with eight hits, with Ashley Bertot and Page Miller leading the Colonels with two each. Courtney Vanlandingham had the Colonels' lone RBI, coming in the sixth on a single to left.

Ashton Bennett (7-7) pitched all six innings for the Red and Gray, giving up three earned runs and struck out four. Bennett also had a hit and scored once.

Trailing 5-0 after two innings, Nicholls' offense got going over the next three frames, tagging NSU starter Brooke Boening (6-5) for four hits. However, the Colonels left a total of five runners stranded, failing to crack the scoreboard.

But in the sixth, Nicholls loaded the bases with no outs after singles by Miller and Bennett, followed by a Danielle Phillips walk. The threat was quickly tamed as Morgan Wilson grounded into a double play, allowing Miller to score. Vanlandingham's single made the count 5-2; however, the Colonels went down quietly in the seventh as Boening retired the 2 through 4 hitters in order.

Nicholls returns to the Colonel Softball Complex for its next seven games, starting Wednesday, March 20 in a non-conference game against Southern. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.