THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team scored two runs in the first inning against McNeese State and it would be more than enough offense for Hannah Haydel as the junior tossed a shutout to lead the Colonels to a 2-0 victory over the first-place Cowgirls on Friday night at the Colonel Softball Complex.
 
With the win, Nicholls improved to 21-13 on the year and 7-6 in the Southland, while McNeese fell to 25-13 and 11-2. The series will conclude on Saturday with a 12 p.m. doubleheader.
 
Friday night's game featured two of the best pitchers in the Southland and the duo did not disappoint, allowing a combined six hits in 13 innings. Haydel (12-6) gave up three, as did her counterpart Emily Vincent (10-3), but it was eight walks by Vincent that was ultimately the difference in the game.
 
Vincent struggled with her control early on, issuing two walks and a bunt single to load the bases with no outs in the first. After her first of eight strikeouts on the night, Vincent walked Danielle Phillips to put Nicholls on the board. The Colonels added another run when Cowgirl catcher Erika Piancastelli tried to pickoff the runner at second, but the ball trickled into centerfield, allowing Brooke Morris to score from third.
 
Haydel faced the minimum through three innings before her own error to lead off the fourth put a runner on. But after a wild pitch, Haydel settled down to retire the next three batters to keep the score at 2-0.
 
In the fifth, McNeese's Lauren Langner broke up the no-hitter after beating out a high chopper to third to lead off the frame. Haydel then issued another walk to put two on with no outs, but the Colonels were able to get a force at third for the first out. The play turned out to save a run as the next batter sent a fly ball out to right field, which allowed both runners to move up a base. Haydel ended the threat as she got Shelbi Strickland to ground out to second.
 
The Colonels had a chance to add a run in the sixth, but Jessica Taylor was caught in a run down to end the inning. With one out, Taylor legged out a double on a ball that took a wicked bounce past the third baseman. But with two down, she got caught between the bases on a grounder by Morris and was tagged out.
 
With three outs remaining for McNeese, things got a little interesting in the top of the seventh. To lead off the frame, Langner recorded the day's hardest hit ball, but Morris leaped at short and came up with an outstanding catch to rob her of a single or better. Following a walk, Bryanna Castro hit a foul ball straight up in the air, and catcher Kayla Prater fought off the bat laying on the ground and made a catch while falling down to record the second out. The next batter, Dakota Matiko, tallied the only hit to leave the infield as she singled to left to keep the inning alive for McNeese. The Cowgirls elected to bring in pinch hitter Taylor Schmidt; however, after battling to a full count, Haydel was able to get her to fly out to left for the victory.
 
Haydel finished the game with four strikeouts and walked three. Parkerson and Morris had the other two hits for Nicholls, both coming on infield singles.