BATON ROUGE, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team climbed back from an early two-run deficit to tie No. 12/13 LSU, but the Tigers scored the game-winning run in the seventh for a walk-off 3-2 victory Tuesday night at Tiger Park.
A leadoff single by Aliyah Andrews set up the dramatic finish and with two down and a runner on second, the Colonels (19-11) elected to walk Sahvanna Jaquish. The next batter, Sydney Springfield, laced a liner that was nearly robbed by a diving
Brooke Morris at second base, but the ball deflected off her glove and trickled into the outfield for the walk-off victory.
Jackie Johnson suffered the loss, falling to 7-6 on the season. The senior pitched 2.0 innings of relief, allowing two hits, struck out three and walked three.
Megan Landry had a strong showing in her start, allowing an earned run on six hits in 4.2 innings.
The Colonels finished the night with four hits, but none came in the first three innings as they were retired in order by LSU starter Sydney Smith. In last year's matchup, Smith limited Nicholls to a lone infield single in the 2-0 victory, but the Colonels were able to get to her in the fourth.
Trailing 2-0,
Samantha Mracich led off the frame with a single to second base.
Amanda Gianelloni, who saved a run with a highlight diving stop in the bottom of the third, moved Mracich over on a sacrifice bunt.
Kasey Frederick then smacked a single to center field and Mracich beat the throw home to cut the deficit to 2-1.
In the fifth, former Tiger
Sydney Bourg singled to first to start the inning and moved to second on her 10th stolen base of the season. Following an error by LSU to put runners on the corners,
Haley Stevenson ripped a single to left to even the score at 2-all.
But in the final two innings, only
Moriah Strother was able to reach on a walk against Carley Hoover, who picked up win with 2.2 innings of relief and five strikeouts.
The Tigers were led on offense by Bailey Landry who went 2-for-4. Taylor Satchell drove in the first run for LSU on a single through the left side in the two-run second inning, and Andrews added the other on a sac fly.
UP NEXT
The Colonels host rival Southeastern Louisiana for a three-game series this weekend, starting Friday, March 24. First pitch for the opener is scheduled for 6 p.m.
