THIBODAUX, La. – Freshman Samantha Gwiazda homered to spark a three-run third while Taryn Westbrook and Brittney Turner combined to allow just three hits, as the Nicholls State University softball team defeated Southern, 6-3, Tuesday night at Swanner Field.
 
Gwiazda was one of eight Colonels to record a hit with Ashlyn Reavis being the lone batter with two. 
 
Westbrook (2-1) tossed four innings and allowed just one run to score in the first. She finished with five strikeouts and gave up two hits. Turner picked up the save with 3.0 innings of work and struck out three.
 
Southern (4-17) scored on a sacrifice fly in the opening inning and the Colonels looked well on their way to tying it after Reavis laced a double down the line to lead off the bottom half. But she ended up stranded on third as Annelise Corona retired the next three.
 
Stepping to the plate for the first time, Gwiazda sent a shot over the center field wall to even the score in the third. Melise Gossen followed with an RBI single and Scout Blades made it 3-1 on a bloop single to right.
 
Reavis led off the fifth again, this time with a single, and came around to score thanks to Kennedy Hebert. Hebert hit a rocket through the left side and the ball ricocheted off the third baseman's glove and into shallow outfield, allowing Hebert to leg out a double. 
 
In the sixth, the Colonels loaded the bases and pinch hitter Lulu Vazquez delivered a two-run single to left.
 
Southern took advantage of a late Colonel error to score two runs, but Turner struck out the final batter to pick up the save. 
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels continue their homestand with a weekend series against Southeastern Louisiana at Swanner Field.  Friday's single game is scheduled for 5 p.m.