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LAKE CHARLES, La. – Senior Hannah Haydel had not allowed more than four runs all season for the Nicholls State University softball team, but Lamar quickly put an end to her impressive run by scoring five runs in the opening frame as the Colonels fell in their Southland Conference Tournament opener, 7-2, on Wednesday evening at Cowgirl Diamond.
 
With the loss, Nicholls (38-16) drops into the loser's bracket and will take on Central Arkansas on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. The Bears lost their opening game to Stephen F. Austin, 4-3. Nicholls and UCA squared off in Thibodaux for a three-game series earlier this season with Nicholls earning the sweep.
 
Haydel, who was recognized before the game for being named Southland Pitcher of the Year, lasted six innings in the loss, which dropped her record to 22-8 on the season. The Ama, La. native, allowed three hits and three walks in the Lamar first, and LU also took advantage of an error to grab the early 5-0 lead.
 
The Colonels had a chance to answer right away in the bottom of the inning but failed to push across a run after loading the bases with no outs. LU (34-20) tacked on two more runs in the fifth before Nicholls answered with a pair in the bottom half of the sixth. Kayla Prater brought home the first Colonel run on a sac fly, and Danielle Phillips followed with an RBI single up the middle, but the next five batters were retired to end the game.
 
Phillips was one of four Colonels to tally two hits in the loss as Nicholls outhit Lamar, 10-6. Freshmen Amanda Gianelloni and Veronica Villafranco both had multi-hit games, and Haley Stevenson added two as well. But the Colonels helped Lamar by issuing five walks and three errors, and Laura Napoli (9-7) was able to keep Nicholls off the board through the first six innings.
 
After leaving the bases full in the first, Nicholls put two on with one out in the third. Gianelloni and Villafranco both singled to put the Colonels into position to score, but Napoli forced two grounders to get out of the jam. She tossed all seven innings for LU, striking out four and walked two.
 
The Colonels avoided the shutout by using three hits in the sixth to score two.
 
Haydel finished with five walks and four strikeouts, allowing five earned on six hits. Megan Landry pitched an inning of relief, striking out one.
 
Lamar was led on offense by Stephanie Meeuwsen with two hits and four RBIs.