CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A bases loaded two-run double by Kristen Ahearn sparked a five-run sixth and Hannah Haydel tossed six shutout innings as the Nicholls State University softball team fended off a late rally to win the series opener over Texas A&M-Corpus Christ, 5-3, on Friday afternoon at Chapman Field.
 
Nicholls (17-12, 4-2 SLC) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (11-17, 1-6 SLC) will wrap up the series on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
 
Haydel (9-6) and Islander starter Liz Carter, who rank second and first in the Southland in strikeouts, respectively, went pitch-for-pitch through five innings as both hurlers kept the offenses off the scoreboard. Carter (7-8) ran into trouble in the sixth, however, as Danielle Phillips' infield single with one out started a big inning for the Red and Gray.
 
Following an error which allowed Amanda Gianelloni to reach, Alexis Huss singled to right to load the bases. The next batter, Ahearn, sent a 2-0 pitch over the head of the right fielder for a double, bringing home a pair of runs for a 2-0 lead.
 
Jessica Taylor drove in another run on a grounder to short as pinch runner Cari Spain beat the throw home. Gretchen Morgan, who doubled earlier in the game, drew a walk to load the bases and the Colonels then added two much needed insurance runs as A&M-Corpus Christi tried to turn a 1-2-3 double play, but the catcher fired the ball past first base into right field, allowing two Colonels to cross the plate for a 5-0 lead.
 
Haydel closed out her day by pitching the sixth, but the Islanders put together a late rally in the seventh. Facing Taylor Hastings, the home team used a single sandwiched between two walks to load the bases with no outs. Jackie Johnson then made her first appearance of the season for the Colonels, getting two groundouts to make the score 5-1. Candice Hadd gave the Islanders life with a two-run single to right, but Johnson ended the game against the next batter as she struck out Carter looking on a full count.
 
Haydel was magnificent once again, scattering three hits over six innings and struck out three. Over her last five appearances, she has allowed just four earned runs in 26 innings, holding hitters to a .186 batting average.
 
Nicholls was held to six hits in the win, led by Phillips who was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Since the start of conference play, Phillips has recorded nine hits for a team-best .429 average.
 
Carter pitched all seven innings for the Islanders, surrendering two earned runs and struck out six. She leads the Southland with 101 strikeouts.