THIBODAUX, La. – Junior
Hannah Haydel tossed a one-hitter and allowed a lone unearned run, and
Alexis Huss came up with the game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh as the Nicholls State University softball team claimed its second consecutive walk-off victory over Stephen F. Austin, winning 2-1 on Sunday at the Colonel Softball Complex.
With the win, Nicholls improves to 14-7 on the year and takes the conference opening series against SFA (7-12, 1-2 SLC) two games to one.
Haydel (7-3) was remarkable in her second start of the weekend, allowing just one infield single in the sixth inning. Haydel was perfect through 3.1 innings before issuing a walk in the fourth, and she had her no-hitter in tact until the first batter of the sixth frame.
Nicholls had nine hits in the win, led by two each from
Brooke Morris and
Kayla Prater. After SFA tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth on a misplayed pop fly in right, Morris and Prater each reached base in the bottom of the seventh to set up the winning run.
Kimmie Rodriguez started the frame with a base hit up the middle, and after
Payton Gremillion laid down a sacrifice bunt, the Ladyjacks elected to walk Morris to set up a potential double play. Prater grounded to short, but the ball was fumbled by SFA's shortstop and Prater reached on the error to load the bases.
On the first pitch, Huss ripped the ball up the middle to center to bring home Rodriguez for the walk-off win.
Callee Guffey (3-5) took the loss for SFA, allowing two earned runs and struck out five. The Colonels got to Guffey in the fourth for a run, scoring on an RBI single through the right side by
Haley Stevenson. Pinch-hitter
Haley Parkerson, who singled and stole second, came across the plate on Stevenson's base knock to give Nicholls a 1-0 lead.
Haydel's bid for a no-hitter came to end in the sixth when Lindsay Campbell hit a chopper to second, which
Danielle Phillips tried to back hand but could not come up with the tough play. After a sac bunt and a stolen base, SFA hit a lazy fly ball to right, but
Jessica Taylor missed the catch and the Ladyjacks tied the game at 1-1.
Huss' walk-off hit was the second for the junior this week as she ended the game against Detroit on Monday.
Nicholls will step back out of conference play with a midweek game at Southern on Wednesday, March 11. First pitch in Baton Rouge is scheduled for 3 p.m.