LIVE STATS
THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team will play its next five games at Swanner Field, starting Tuesday with a doubleheader against Alcorn State. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Colonels (27-13) and Alcorn (8-25) met earlier this season in Lorman, Mississippi, with Nicholls sweeping a doubleheader with 6-1 and 8-1 victories. The offense picked up late in both wins, scoring all but two runs after the fourth inning.
Megan Landry and
Amanda Holliday earned victories in the circle to put Nicholls at 5-2 in the early going.
Last weekend at McNeese, the Colonel offense cranked out 10 home runs – including its first inside-the-park homer which came in the finale off the bat of
Kelsey Miller.
Kali Clement and
Moriah Strother hit three out of the park, while
Kasey Frederick and
Samantha Dares had one each.
Over the last seven games, Strother has a .500 batting average with five homers and 12 RBIs. Frederick and Clement have also been hot during that span, batting .455 and .435, respectively. Frederick now leads the team with a .370 batting average, ranking third in the Southland.
The trio of
Megan Landry,
Alexis LaBure, and
Amanda Holliday will look to rebound in the circle after surrendering 21 earned runs in the series against McNeese. The staff had not allowed more than four earned in a single game since March 4. Despite the uncharacteristic showing, Nicholls still leads the SLC with a 2.38 ERA.
Alcorn split its two-game series with Alabama State over the weekend, falling 4-1 before picking up a 2-1 victory. The Lady Braves also played a nonconference game at ranked Mississippi State last week, dropping an 11-0 decision.
Taylor Hughes and Amari Ramsey head the Alcorn lineup. Hughes is batting .378 with 17 RBIs while Ramsey is at .351 with 15 runs batted in. Hughes had a hit in the two previous meetings this season against the Colonels and drove in Game 2's first run with an RBI single in the opening frame.
The Lady Braves pitching has struggled this season, posting a collective 6.12 ERA with a .314 opponent batting average. Paige Taylor leads the team with a 3-6 record and a 5.40 ERA.
PROMOTIONS
The doubleheader will feature Taco Tuesday at Swanner Field, with $2 tacos at the concession stand. There will also be a special for unlimited beer for just $10.
ON DECK
With three series remaining in the conference season, Nicholls is one of four teams tied for first place and only lead two others – Northwestern State and Central Arkansas – by one game. Nicholls and NSU will square off for a three-game set at Swanner Field beginning Friday night (April 20) at 5 p.m.
