BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Nicholls State University softball team pounded out nine hits against Alabama State but stranded a total of nine runners, as the Colonels fell 8-1 Friday evening in the opening game of the UAB Softball Invite.
 
The loss was the fourth consecutive for the Colonels after a blazing hot 4-0 start. Nicholls returns to action Saturday at 4 p.m. against ASU before taking on host UAB at 6:30 p.m.
 
Alabama State scored one run in the second and third innings before breaking it open with a four-run fourth. Nicholls threatened in the fifth, loading the bases with one out. Skylar Hamilton drove in a runner on a popup, but the Colonels left the bases loaded.
 
The Hornets tacked on two more runs in the sixth to make the final. 
 
Freshman Ashlyn Reavis continued her stellar rookie campaign at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double. She upped her batting average to .522 on the year after her career-high three hits for the game. Jaida Choice was one of the six other Colonels to tally a hit, doubling in the fifth inning. 
 
Alexis LaBure took the loss, allowing six unearned runs in 3.2 innings. She gave up six hits, walked three and struck out one.