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DENTON, Texas – The Nicholls State University softball team opened play in the Lovelace Invitational Friday and was defeated in both games, falling 4-3 to Northern Iowa in extra innings before suffering a 8-4 loss to host North Texas.

Nicholls (1-6) will pick up play on Saturday against Southern University, with first pitch slated for 10 a.m. The Colonels will play a second game on Saturday at either 3 p.m. or 5 p.m.

Game 1 – Northern Iowa 4, Nicholls 3 (8 innings)

Behind a strong outing in the circle by freshman Jackie Johnson, Nicholls led 2-0 over Northern Iowa after five innings, but the Lady Panthers rallied with two runs in the sixth to force an extra frame and went on to notch a 4-3 win over the Colonels in game one of the Lovelace Invitational.

NIU plated two runs in the top of the seventh, and Nicholls was able to get one back on a pinch-hit RBI single by Morgan Wilson. With one out and the tying run on third, the Lady Panthers got two swinging strikeouts to close out the game.

On offense, Taylor Terrio and Camille Rozas led Nicholls with two hits each. Rozas played a part in the Colonels' first two runs, driving in a run in the second before scoring in the fifth on a RBI single by Brittany Marcet.

In the top of the sixth, the Lady Panthers finally got to Johnson, who gave up two earned on eight hits in eight innings of work, as a two-out triple brought home two runs to even the game.

An error led to NIU's first run in the extra frame, and a double added a critical insurance run. A double by Danielle Phillips helped setup the Colonels' late rally, but Nicholls ended the contest with its 11th and 12th strikeout of the game.

Game 2 – North Texas 8, Nicholls 4

Nicholls and North Texas were all squared at 4-4 after three innings, but a costly error in the fourth led to a two-out, bases loaded 3-run double by the Mean Green as North Texas dropped Nicholls 8-4 in the Colonels' second game of the day.

Nicholls pounded out nine hits in the loss, getting two each from Marcet, Phillips and Kayla Prater. Marcet had a RBI double in the first before cranking a home run in the third to lead off the inning.

Marcet's homer cut North Texas' lead to 4-2, and the solo shot started a rally for the Colonels. Later in the inning, Olivia Van Hook and Prater both recorded RBI singles to even it up at 4-all.

After North Texas' big fourth inning, Nicholls had opportunities to make a comeback, but left five runners stranded over the next two innings. The Colonels were able to load the bases with two outs in the sixth, but UNT escaped with a pop out to short to end the threat.

The Colonels were retired in order in the seventh as North Texas claimed the 8-4 win.

Hannah Haydel took her first loss of the season, giving up three earned in four innings. Katie Moulder pitched the rest of the way, surrendering one run on three hits.