Final Stats 1 | Final Stats 2 HAMMOND, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team opened the 2014 season in the Lion Classic at Chappapeela Park on Friday and came up empty, falling 11-6 in a hit fest against Texas Southern before being shutout by Texas Tech, 2-0.

Nicholls (0-2) and Texas Southern (1-0) combined for 30 hits in the teams' season opener, but the Lady Tigers put up a five-spot in the top of the seventh to claim the win. Against Texas Tech (1-1), the Colonels were held to a two hits and the Red Raiders generated just enough offense to keep the Colonels winless on the day.

Freshman Brooke Morris led Nichols with four hits, while senior Brittany Marcet had three hits and three RBIs. Freshman Taylor Terrio also had three hits, and Danielle Phillips, Haley Parkerson and Colleen Levy added two each.

Game One – Texas Southern 11, Nicholls 6

The Colonels jumped out to a 5-2 lead after two innings thanks in part to a 2-run homer by Marcet, but Texas State rallied to take the lead in the fourth before blowing the game open with five runs in its final at bat.

Marcet's home run came in the first, giving Nicholls a 2-0 lead. After the Lady Tigers evened the score in the top of the second, the Colonels pounded out three doubles in their next at bat to take a 5-2 lead.

Down 5-3 in the fourth, TSU plated three runs to take the lead. The Colonels were then held scoreless in their next three at bats before the Lady Tigers exploded with a five-run frame in the seventh.

Nicholls added a run on a bases loaded walk by Levy but would leave the bases loaded.

Hannah Haydel suffered the loss, giving up three unearned runs in three innings. Katie Moulder tossed 3.2 innings, surrendering seven earned on nine hits. Both pitchers stuck out three and combined for three walks.

Game Two – Texas Tech 2, Nicholls 0

Marcet and Parkerson were the only Colonels to get a hit in the night cap against Texas Tech as the Colonels dropped a 2-0 decision, despite a strong effort in the circle by freshman Jackie Johnson.

Johnson went the distance, giving up two runs on six hits. She finished with six strikeouts, but walked eight batters.

After allowing a run to score on a wild pitch in the first, Johnson settled down and kept the Red Raider offense in check. She gave up only one hit over the next three innings before Tech doubled its lead in the fifth on an RBI double.

Down 2-0 and two more innings to go, Nicholls was held hitless the rest of the way as Texas Tech claimed its first win of the season.

Nicholls will continue play in the Lion Classic on Saturday with matchups against Akron (12:30 p.m.) and Alabama State (3 p.m.).