Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

THIBODAUX, La.  – The Nicholls State University softball team rallied with four runs in the eighth to defeat Houston Baptist 7-6 in extra innings as the Colonels picked up a split in its Thursday doubleheader at the Colonel Softball Complex. Houston Baptist blanked Nicholls in game one, taking the opener 8-0 in six innings.

Nicholls (14-18, 5-6) and Houston Baptist (13-12, 6-5) will play the rubbermatch Friday at 3 p.m. as the Colonels are aiming to win consecutive Southland series.

Game 1 – Houston Baptist 8, Nicholls 0 (6 innings)

Houston Baptist broke open the game with four runs in the second inning and the Huskies added two more in the third in sixth frames as the Colonels were run-ruled in six innings, 8-0.

Nicholls only managed four hits, getting one each from Brittany Marcet, Danielle Phillips, Paige Miller and Haley Parkerson. Ashley Bertot went 0-for-3, seeing her 12-game hitting streak come to an end.

Ashton Bennett (8-9) took the loss, pitching just over two innings. The senior gave up four earned runs on six hits and walked one. Katie Moulder limited HBU to just a pair of unearned runs, surrendering three hits in 3.2 innings.

The Huskies were led by Lauren Schwirtlich and Melissa Herman, who each finished with two hits. Sarah Shotton (3-4) earned the win, striking out seven in seven innings of work.

Game 2 – Nicholls 7, Houston Baptist 6 (8 innings)

After sending the game into extras with a run in the sixth, the Colonels looked to be defeated when Houston Baptist plated three runs in the top of the eighth, but Nicholls responded in a big way as Leah Andrus singled home the winning run, capping a four-run frame to give Nicholls a 7-6 walkoff victory.

The walkoff win was the second in as many victories, with Nicholls taking last Sunday's game against SFA in the bottom of the seventh.

The Colonels opened up the game with a run in the first after Marcet drove in Bertot, who singled and stole second. HBU would even the game in the fourth with a RBI single up the middle by Shay Orsak.

In the fifth, the Huskies took the lead after back-to-back triples by Lauren Powers and Kirsten Schwirtlich. Orsak then drew a bases loaded walk to put HBU up 3-1. In the bottom half, Bertot came home again when Andrus ripped a two-out double.

Trailing 3-2 in the sixth, freshman Colleen Levy led off the inning with her first career hit, a towering double to center. With two out, Maggie Bryan singled, tying the game at 3-3.

Following a scoreless seventh, HBU struck first in extra innings, scoring three runs on three hits. After taking the lead on a sacrifice fly, Victoria Granchelli laced a shot up the middle to score two, making the score 6-3.

In its final at-bat, Nicholls filled the bases with one out and Bryan came through again with a RBI single to right. The next batter, Alaina Guidry, crushed a pitch to left field that was a foot short of being a walkoff grand slam, but still drove in two on a standup double to tie the game at 6-6. HBU got the next out on a force at home before Andrus singled past the short stop for the 7-6 victory.

Hannah Haydel (6-6) won her third straight decision, matching her career-high of six strikeouts in eight innings of work. Haydel gave up four earned on nine hits and walked five.