HOUSTON - The Nicholls State University softball team ended a seven-game drought without a home run, belting two against ULM while the pitching staff combined for a shutout as the Colonels closed out the Houston Classic with an 8-0 run-rule victory.
The homers started and ended the scoring for the Colonels.
Kasey Frederick blasted a 3-run shot in the first inning and with Nicholls (7-4) leading 7-0 in the sixth,
Veronica Villafranco ended the game with a solo home run.
Along with the second-most runs for the Colonels in the young season,
Megan Landry and freshman
Emily Danehower teamed up for the six-inning shutout. Landry (6-1) ended her fantastic week with six strikeouts in five innings, while Danehower was perfect in her first career appearance. Landry finished the week with a 4-0 record, a 0.23 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
Emma Holland and Frederick led Nicholls with two hits each.
Mallery Marino drove in a run in the Colonels' four-run fourth.
Landry allowed three hits - all in the first two innings. ULM doubled with one on and one out in the opening frame, but much like the rest of the weekend, Landry left the runners on base by retiring the next two batters.
Frederick's first homer of the season came in the bottom half.
Samantha Mracich walked and Holland singled to set up the 3-0 lead.
In the fourth, Nicholls tallied three hits but also got some help on a ULM (1-8) error. The first two runs scored on an error and a fielder's choice before Holland delivered a 2-run single to right.
After Danehower retired the Warhawks in order in the top of the sixth, Villafranco led off the bottom with a solo shot for the walk-off victory.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will not play a midweek game, but returns to action next weekend in the Mardi Gras Classic, hosted by South Alabama. The Colonels start play Friday at 10 a.m. against Hofstra.
FOLLOW ALONG
The Colonel softball team can be followed all season long on Twitter @Nicholls_SB.
