Final Stats Box Score

DENTON, Texas – The Nicholls State University softball team hit three home runs, highlighted by a grand slam by Brittany Marcet, and Jackie Johnson tossed a shutout as the Colonels closed out play in the Lovelace Invitational with a 9-0 mercy-rule victory over Southern on Sunday morning.

With the win, Nicholls improved to 3-7 on the year while Southern remained winless at 0-7. The teams will square off again on Wednesday, Feb. 19, in the Colonels' 2014 home opener slated for 6 p.m.

The Colonels cranked out 12 hits in the win, led by Marcet and Colleen Levy with three each. The duo teamed up to drive in Nicholls' last six runs, started by Marcet's grand slam in the fourth which made the score 7-0. In the bottom of the fifth, Levy gave the Colonels a walk-off victory with a 2-run shot.

Eight of the Colonels' nine runs came via the home run, as Morgan Wilson  put Nicholls up 2-0 in the second with her second career long ball. In the next inning, Laura Neil gave Nicholls a 3-0 lead with a RBI single up the middle.

After giving up two singles in the first, Johnson (1-5) allowed only one base runner the rest of the way as she finished with seven strikeouts and just one walk. Johnson's first four Ks came by swinging, and Lady Jaguars were caught looking for the final three.

On offense, Danielle Phillips scored two runs on the day, going 2-for-3 at the leadoff spot. Taylor Terrio also added a run and hit for the Colonels.