THIBODAUX, La. – Senior
Danielle Phillips was on deck Saturday as the Nicholls State University softball team earned a walkoff victory in 10 innings against Central Arkansas, and she must have liked what she saw as she ended Sunday's game in the same fashion with a base hit up the middle in the 10th, lifting the Colonels to a 3-2 victory and a series sweep over the Bears at the Colonel Softball Complex.
The win for Nicholls (22-12, 9-2) was its eighth consecutive in conference play, which led the Red and Gray to their first three-game sweep at home since defeating Central Arkansas (23-14, 6-6) in 2010. The Colonels remain in second play in the Southland, trailing next weekend's opponent, McNeese State.
Like in Saturday's opener, it was pitching that dominated the game as the teams were tied 2-2 after nine innings. For the Colonels,
Megan Landry and
Hannah Haydel (12-6) nearly split the time in the circle as Landry lasted 5.1 innings and Haydel pitched the rest of the way. The Bears rode the arm of Shivaun Landeros (14-9) once again as she pitched the entire game.
With a runner starting on second in the 10th due to the tiebreaker rules, yesterday's hero,
Haley Parkerson, laid down a sacrifice bunt to move
Kayla Prater to third base. The next batter, Phillips, wasted no time as she sent the first pitch from Landeros up the middle and into center field, giving Nicholls its second walkoff win in 10 innings in as many days.
Phillips had two of the Colonels' 10 hits in the win, with Parkerson and
Haley Stevenson also adding two each. Freshman
Amanda Gianelloni hit her third home run of the season, which tied the game at 2-all in the sixth.
Unlike Saturday's marathon, the offenses were able to produce early as both teams scored a run in the first two innings. Hannah Stirton put UCA on the board with an RBI single in the first, and Nicholls answered in the second with a RBI base knock from
Brooke Morris, scoring
Haley Stevenson who doubled earlier in the frame.
The Bears then took the lead in the fifth after taking advantage of two free passes with two outs – a hit-by-pitch and a walk by Landry. Stirton delivered once again, this time stroking a single to center to bring in a run.
The lead did not last long, however, as Gianelloni crushed a 2-1 pitch down the left field line and just inside the foul pole for a solo shot to start the sixth.
In extras, Haydel ran into trouble in the ninth as UCA had two infield singles to start the frame. Following a sac bunt, Haydel retired Stirton on a liner to short. She then got Aubrey Pratt to pop out to third to end the inning.
For UCA's 10th, the Bears tried to move over the placed runner from second, but Stevenson alertly rushed in from third to snag a pop up bunt. She then fielded a grounder, looked the runner back, and fired to first for the second out. Haydel took care of the final out, fielding a grounder up the middle to retire the side and set up the Colonels' dramatic finish.
Haydel earned the win after tossing 4.2 innings of relief, allowing three hits and struck out one. Landry fanned six batters and gave up six hits.
The Colonels will look to extend their six-game winning streak as they host Alcorn State on Tuesday, April 5 for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Admission to all home softball games is free of charge.
