Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

THIBODAUX, La.  – The Nicholls softball team looked to be headed toward its second 1-0 shutout of the day against Central Arkansas, but the Colonels scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by a three-run bomb from Brittany Marcet as Nicholls won game two 5-3.

Sunday's finale between Nicholls (19-21, 9-8) and Central Arkansas (27-15, 8-8) at the Colonel Softball Complex is scheduled for 12 p.m., weather permitted. For the latest updates, please continue to check geauxcolonels.com.

Game 1 – Central Arkansas 1, Nicholls 0

Kelsie Armstrong (20-10) limited the Colonels to three hits and the Sugar Bears scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh to take game one 1-0.

Hannah Haydel (7-8) went pitch-for-pitch against the Southland's top hurler, but the freshman from Ama, La. would be charged with the loss. Haydel scattered seven hits, struck out five and issued three walks.

The Sugar Bears looked on their way of breaking the scoreless tie in the third, loading the bases with one out. But Haydel got out of the jam when Bertot fielder a grounder by Sam Forrest, tagged the runner going to second and fired the ball to first for a double play.

Two innings later, UCA tried to scored on a double to center by Forrest; however, shortstop Leah Andrus threw out the runner at the plate to keep the game at 0-0.

In the seventh with two out and a runner on third, UCA finally got on the scoreboard when Andrus fumbled a grounder, allowing a run to score. In the bottom half, Marcet and Andrus singled, but Armstrong fanned the next two batters to end the game.

Freshman Colleen Levy also had a single against Armstrong. The UCA starter struck out 11 batters in seven innings of work.

Game 2 – Nicholls 5, Central Arkansas 3

Held down for most of the day against UCA's Armstrong, Nicholls took an aggressive approach in the sixth inning which led to five runs on five hits and the Colonels held on for a 5-3 victory in game two.

Trailing 1-0 in the sixth, Ashley Bertot and Haley Parkerson led off the frame with back-to-back singles. Marcet came up to the plate looking to bunt, but instead took a 2-1 pitch and blasted it over the centerfield wall. Nicholls added two more runs and Ashton Bennett (11-9) held off a late rally to notch her 11th victory of the season.

Bennett gave up two earned runs on eight hits and struck out two. UCA's unearned run came in the third on a throwing error by Alaina Guidry which led to a RBI single by Forrest.

Neither team got much going on offense until the Colonels exploded for five in the sixth. After the three-run bomb by Marcet, Andrus walked and moved to third on a double by Danielle Phillips. Guidry then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt, making the score 4-1. After a strikeout, Guidry got caught in a rundown which allowed Phillips to steal home.

UCA didn't go down quietly though, making the score 5-3 in the seventh on a pair of RBI singles by Melanie Bryant and Lissa Avitia. Avaitia led UCA at the plate, finishing with three hits. With two down, Bennett got Sarah Bigej to flyout to left to end the game, giving Nicholls the split.

Marcet and Parkerson each finished 2-for-3 as Nicholls had seven hits. Armstrong tossed all six innings, striking out nine.