THIBODAUX, La. – Behind a dramatic 10th-inning walkoff victory and another dominating pitching performance, the Nicholls State University softball team picked up a doubleheader sweep on Saturday against Central Arkansas, winning 2-1 and 5-0 at the Colonel Softball Complex.
With the victories, Nicholls (21-12, 8-2) clinched its third consecutive series with its seventh straight win in conference play. The Colonels and Central Arkansas (23-13, 6-5) will wrap up the series on Sunday at 12 p.m.
Game 1 – Nicholls 2, Central Arkansas 1 (10 innings) The pitching staffs combined for 18 shutout innings in the series opener and it wasn't until tiebreaker rules came into play in the 10th when the offenses finally scored.
With a runner starting on second, Central Arkansas took advantage of a wild pitch, which moved the runner to third, to score the game's first run as Sarah Bigej hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 1-0.
A leadoff error by UCA put runners on the corner for the Colonels, but Bigej fired to home from second on a grounder to prevent Nicholls from tying the game. A groundout to first moved the runners in scoring position with two down, setting up the thrilling finish. On a 1-0 pitch,
Haley Parkerson laced a single to center which drove in pinch runner
Madison Jeffrey from third, and
Brooke Morris dove into home plate to beat the throw, giving Nicholls a 2-1 walkoff victory.
Hannah Haydel (11-6) earned the win for Nicholls, scattering six hits over 10 innings. She walked five and struck out two, and was able to get out of several jams early on.
Through the first five innings, UCA left a total of nine runners on base, including loading the bases in the opening frame. But each time, Haydel found a way to keep the Bears off the scoreboard.UCA had 12 runners left for the game, compared to just six for Nicholls.
Shivaun Landeros (14-8) took the loss despite allowing just five hits in 9.2 innings of work.
Danielle Phillips led Nicholls with two hits.
Kristen Ahearn and
Haley Stevenson joined Parkerson with one hit each.
Game 2 – Nicholls 5, Central Arkansas 0 Freshman
Amanda Gianelloni had two hits and three RBIs, and it was more than enough as fellow classmate
Megan Landry tossed six shutout innings as Nicholls defeated Central Arkansas, 5-0, to pick up a Saturday sweep.
The Colonels had 12 hits in the victory, with a total of nine coming in third and sixth innings which led to all five runs. In the third,
Kayla Prater and
Haley Parkerson singled with one out, and Gianelloni placed a hit perfectly down the right field line for a 2-run triple. Kristen Aheard then found a gap between third and short to drive in Gianelloni for a 3-0 lead.
In the sixth,
Haley Stevenson singled up the middle,
Brooke Morris followed with a base hit and Parkerson was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Danielle Phillips sprayed a single to left to bring in one run, and Gianelloni ripped a shot by the third baseman for an RBI single.
Landry allowed four infield singles in the first three innings, but UCA never cracked the scoring column. Following a perfect fourth and fifth inning, the Bears threatened in the sixth with a leadoff walk and single. But the defense stepped up as Stevenson caught a rocket at third base for the first out, and after a walk to load the bases; Landry helped herself out by starting a 1-2-3 double play.
Hannha Haydel pitched the seventh, striking out the first batter before walking the next two. But the senior settled down and fanned two straight to secure the shutout.
Landry (10-5) surrendered five hits and struck out two. Parkerson, Phillips and Morris joined Gianelloni with two hits apiece.
Kayla Gomness (6-3) was tagged with the loss, pitching 5.2 innings with five runs on 10 hits.
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