THIBODAUX, La. – Looking for its second straight conference series win, the Nicholls State University softball team allowed Abilene Christian to score four runs in the second and fourth frames as the Wildcats won in five innings, 9-1, Saturday afternoon at Swanner Field.
 
The Colonels (11-23, 4-17 SLC) were doubled up in hits, 8-4, and the pitching staff issued a total of five walks and two hit-by-pitches. For ACU, the Wildcats received a stellar performance in the circle by Samantha Bradley, who struck out two in the victory.
 
Lulu Vazquez recorded two of the Colonel hits while Ashlyn Reavis singled to record a hit in her fourth consecutive game. ACU was paced by Cailie Burris who was 3-for-3 with five RBIs.
 
Burris started the scoring for the Wildcats with an RBI single in the first. In the second, she capped the four-run frame with a 2-run single back up the middle again for a 5-1 advantage.
 
In the bottom half of the second, Vazquez singled following a Caitlin Garcia double, leading to a run scored in a double play groundout.  
 
Abilene Christian (9-31, 5-16 SLC) took advantage of some spotty Colonel pitching in the fourth to put the run-rule into play. A single and two walks forced Taryn Westbrook out of the game, but a bases loaded walk by Alexis LaBure gave ACU a 6-1 lead. Burris followed with a 2-run single and the Wildcats added one more run on a wild pitch.
 
Vazquez reached on her second hit in the fourth but she would be the only base runner the rest of the way. 
 
Westbrook was charged with eight runs on six hits in 3.0 innings and struck out two. LaBure surrendered a run in 0.2 innings and Brittney Turner threw 1.1 in relief. 
 
ON DECK
The Colonels will play their final road series of the season, taking on Lamar University next weekend in Beaumont. Friday's opener is scheduled for 6 p.m.