LAKE CHARLES, La. – The top-seed Nicholls State University softball team was three outs from forcing a Game 2 of the Southland Conference Tournament Championship against McNeese, but the defending champion Cowgirls scored three runs in the seventh to earn their third consecutive title with a 4-2 victory Friday afternoon at Joe Miller Field.
McNeese (40-19) will represent the Southland in the NCAA Tournament next week, earning the league's automatic bid. The Colonels finish as runner-up in the tournament to the Cowgirls for the second consecutive year and close the season with a 40-15 overall record.
Thanks to solo home runs by
Samantha Dares and
Kali Clement, Nicholls held a 2-1 lead over the Cowgirls heading into the final inning. Despite allowing a run in the first after two walks and error,
Megan Landry held McNeese without a hit through six innings. But leading off the seventh, Erika Piancastelli, who had the walk-off hit Thursday against the Colonels, sent a 2-2 offering into deep left center for a solo homer, tying the game at 2-2.
Landry left the game as
Alexis LaBure (14-6) took over in the circle, walking Morgan Catron. A grounder moved the runner over and then after pinch-runner Toni Perrin stole third, Aubree Turberville put down a perfect squeeze bunt for a 3-2 lead. McNeese added one more run on a single by Brenique Wright.
In the Colonel seventh, Alexsandra Flores struck out all three batters she faced to earn the save and close out the comeback for McNeese.
Landry earned a no-decision in her one-hit effort, tossing 6.0 innings with one earned run, two walks, and a strikeout. LaBure gave up three singles and walked two.
Dares led the Colonels with a 2-for-3 day, including her solo shot in the third. Clement's homer broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth, which was her eighth of the year – with four coming at Joe Miller Field.
Jewel Lara,
Kasey Frederick, and
Corynn Major also had singles for the Colonels.
Caroline Settle (10-6) picked up the win for McNeese, allowing two earned runs on six hits in 6.0 innings.
ALL-TOURNAMENT
Nicholls had four players make the Southland All-Tournament Team – catcher
Moriah Strother, outfielder
Kasey Frederick, shortstop
Amanda Gianelloni and pitcher
Megan Landry. Last season, Landry was also an all-tournament selection.