Kennedy Hebert
3
South Alabama USA 4-12
4
Winner Nicholls NICH 7-11
South Alabama USA
4-12
3
Final
4
Nicholls NICH
7-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 R H E
South Alabama USA 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 10 4
Nicholls NICH 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 13 3

W: Moon, Jordan (2-2) L: Hardy, Jenna (2-5)

Game Recap: Softball |

Colonels end drought against South Alabama with 16th inning walkoff victory

THIBODAUX, La.  - The Nicholls State University softball team outlasted South Alabama in 16 innings as junior Caitlin Garcia hit a single with the bases loaded to give the Colonels a 4-3 victory on Fat Tuesday on Swanner Field at GeoSurfaces Park. 

The game lasted four hours and 29 minutes and neither team scored a run after the fourth inning until Garcia's walkoff single. The Colonels loaded the bases against Jenna Hardy in the 16th after a leadoff error and two bunt singles. Facing a 3-1 count, Garcia ripped a single to leftcenter for her lone hit of the night, ending a 11-game losing streak against South Alabama. 



Jordan Moon (2-2) was lights out in relief, throwing 9.2 innings with seven strikeouts while allowing just two hits. She came into pitch in the seventh and did not surrender a hit until the 15th inning. 

Kennedy Hebert and Samantha Mracich led the offense, combining for six of the Colonels' 13 hits. Emma Holland had two hits and was walked three times.

Although she suffered the loss, South Alabama's Hardy had a remarkable effort in the circle, setting a new school record by tossing all 15 innings. She struck out five, walked five, and allowed just two earned runs.

USA started the game with a two-out home run by Katelyn Gruich, who sent the ball deep over the center field wall and onto the batting cages. But Nicholls got the run back and one more on a pair of RBI groundouts by Garcia and Melise Gossen. The Colonels loaded the bases after Corynn Major, Holland, and Hebert singled at the top of the order.

A leadoff double by Amanda Flynn in the third resulted in another two-out run for USA, then the Jaguars took the lead in the top of the fourth when Flynn singled in a runner with two down again. In the bottom half, Mracich slapped a single into left field to plate Gossen and tied the game at 3-3. 

For the extra innings, Nicholls kept threatening to end the game but USA found a way to escape. The Colonels stranded a combined nine runners in innings eight through 15. 

Emily Danehower made the start in the circle for the Colonels, allowing three earned runs in 6.1 innings. She struck out four and walked one. 

UP NEXT
The Colonels will head to Montgomery, Alabama this weekend to take part in the Black and Gold Tournament, hosted by Alabama State. Nicholls opens play Friday (Feb. 28) against Eastern Kentucky (10 a.m.) and Mercer (12:30 p.m.).