MONTGOMERY, Ala. — After falling in eight innings in its opener against Fort Wayne, the Nicholls State University softball team bounced back with a 4-1 victory over Appalachian State on Friday to close out its opening day in the Black and Gold Tournament, hosted by Alabama State.
The Colonels continue play on Saturday with games against Holy Cross (9:30 a.m.) and Akron (5 p.m.)
Game 1 – Fort Wayne 1, Nicholls 0
Only the international tiebreaker rule could break up a pitcher's duel as Fort Wayne defeated Nicholls in eight innings, 1-0.
Colonel freshmen
Alexis LaBure was outstanding in her debut, striking out five Mastodons in eight innings of work. But with the tiebreaker coming into play in the eighth, which places a runner on second to start the inning, Jenna Balthazor snuck a two-out single through the left side for the third Mastodon hit and the only run of the game.
The Colonels were retired in order in the bottom half for the sixth time, giving Fort Wayne pitcher Bailey Benefiel a complete game one-hitter.
Kali Clement had the lone hit for the Colonels, coming in the second inning. The only other base runner was
Skylar Hamilton via a walk.
Game 2 – Nicholls 4, Appalachian State 1
Junior pitcher
Megan Landry stifled Appalachian State with 10 strikeouts while scattering four hits, and
Kasey Frederick was perfect at the plate with a 4-for-4 night as Nicholls defeated the Mountaineers, 4-1.
Landry tossed six innings before giving way to
Amanda Holliday, who struck out two in the seventh to pick up the save. Kenzie Longanecker took the loss with four runs on five hits in 5.0 innings.
Nicholls trailed 1-0 after three innings, but tied it up in the fourth. Frederick reached second on a double and came around to score on a base hit from
Kendal Daniels. The Colonels then took the lead in the next inning after a leadoff error, as
Julia Bailey delivered the go-ahead run on a groundout to third.
Although it turned out to be not needed, the Colonels added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth. Daniels drove in a run on a bases loaded walk and another came across the plate on a passed ball.
Landry picked up her 10th punchout in the sixth. Holliday pitched the seventh, retiring two batters on looking strikeouts before forcing a groundout to end the game.
