THIBODAUX, La. – Juniors
Megan Landry and
Amanda Holliday combined for the third shutout in the last five games for the Nicholls State University softball team and the offense generated late runs as the Colonels took sole possession of second place with a 5-0 victory against Central Arkansas Saturday at Swanner Field.
Landry (14-5) struck out five in 5.2 innings before giving way to Holliday in the sixth. Holliday did not allow a hit in earning her second save but walked three batters in the seventh to load the bases. Trailing 5-0 with two outs, UCA's Morgan Felts hit a shot to shallow center to threaten the shutout, but
Brooklyn Devine made a sliding grab to end the game.
While it was a pair of juniors who dominated in the circle, underclassmen took care of the scoring in the fifth and sixth innings. Sophomore
Kendal Daniels put Nicholls (23-10, 9-3 SLC) on the board with a pinch-hit RBI single, and freshman
Kelsey Miller squeaked a base hit through the left side for a 2-0 lead. The Colonels then made it 3-0 on a double steal that allowed
Emma Holland to score.
In the sixth,
Kali Clement singled to start the inning and stole second with two outs. Freshman
Corynn Major followed by beating out a throw on an infield single, and Clement was able to score from second on the play for a 4-0 lead. Holland, another freshman, made the advantage 5-0 after ripping a double down the third base line.
Ellie Reaves (2-5) took the loss for Central Arkansas (17-15, 8-4 SLC), allowing three earned in 4.1 innings. She was perfect until the last batter of the third inning, Holland, singled up the middle.
For Landry, it was not until the fifth inning before she did not allow a Bear to reach base. She stranded runners in scoring position in the first and second innings, and after a leadoff walk in the third,
Kasey Frederick made a great diving catch at first and doubled up the runner. UCA threatened again in the fourth on a one-out double from Kayla Shepherd, but Landry forced a flyout before recording her fifth strikeout to end the frame.
Freshman
Jewel Lara sparked the big fifth inning with a leadoff double to left center. Nicholls had four of its eight hits for the game in the fifth.
Felts led UCA with two singles.
UP NEXT
The Colonels will play at Southern on Tuesday before hosting Abilene Christian next weekend for a three-game conference series. Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m.
