HAMMOND, La. - The Nicholls State University softball team used phenomenal pitching performances from Megan Landry and Jackie Johnson to earn a sweep in the Colonels' season opener Friday in the Lion Classic. 
 
GAME 1 – Nicholls 3, Army 0
 
Sophomore Megan Landry nearly duplicated her performance from last year's Lion Classic as she took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Army and the offense generated more than enough to lift the Colonels to a 3-0 victory.
 
Landry, who tossed a no-hitter in her first career game last season against Mississippi Valley State in the classic, completely shutdown the Black Knights until Alee Rashenskas ripped a base knock into center to start the seventh. Landry issued her fourth walk of the day to the next batter, but then caught a line drive to turn a double play. The final out was recorded on a fly to right field.
 
Nicholls finished with seven hits, but could not crack the scoring column until the fourth inning. Sydney Bourg came up with a two-out infield single, stole second and reached third on a throwing error. Haley Stevenson then drew a walk and tried to steal, forcing Army to throw to second. Bourg alertly dashed home and beat the throw at the plate for the first run of the game.
 
In the fifth, the Colonels extended their lead with two runs. Brooke Morris, who was 2-for-2, singled with one out and was followed by a walk from Amanda Gianelloni and a base hit by Kimmie Rodriguez to load the bases. Veronica Villafranco then delivered an RBI base hit to center and Kasey Frederick capped the frame with a run-scoring single through the left side.
 
Landry finished with seven strikeouts in seven innings of work. Samantha Mracich also added a hit for the Colonels.
 
Army's Caroline Smith took the loss, allowing six hits and five walks.
 
GAME 2 – Nicholls 4, Mississippi Valley State 3
 
After a slow start, the Colonels used a 3-run third inning to take the lead over Mississippi Valley State and senior Jackie Johnson took care of the rest as she tossed six innings of hitless relief in a 4-3 victory.
 
Johnson had an outstanding showing, striking out 11 batters in six innings of work. With the Colonels holding a slim 4-3 lead in the seventh, Johnson struck out the side to preserve the win.
 
Nicholls had six hits in the win, paced by leadoff hitter Samantha Mracich who was 2-of-4 with two runs. Mracich singled and stole second to start the game and scored on a wild pitch to give Nicholls an early 1-0 lead.
 
After MVSU plated two in the bottom half on an error by Mrarich, the Devilettes tacked on one more in the second to chase Colonel starter Taylor Hastings. Johnson came into the game with the bases loaded and no outs and was able to limit MVSU to the single run, striking out two.
 
The Colonels then answered in the third with three runs on two hits. The first came across on a MVSU error and Amanda Gianelloni smacked a single to left to tie the game at 3-3. The final run scored via a Veronica Villafranco groundout.
 
Rebekah Clinton suffered the loss for MVSU, allowing six hits and two earned in six innings.
 
UP NEXT
 
Nicholls continues play in the Lion Classic with two games on Saturday.

Saturday, Feb. 11
Nicholls vs. Southern Illinois – 11 a.m. (Field One)  LIVE STATS   l   VIDEO
Nicholls vs. Nevada – 3 p.m. (Field Two)
 
Sunday, Feb. 12
Nicholls vs. Coppin State – 1 p.m. (Field Two)