THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team fell short in claiming its second conference series as McNeese run-ruled the Colonels, 10-2, in six innings, spoiling Senior Day in the season finale Saturday afternoon at Swanner Field.
With the loss, Nicholls ended the season at 12-28 overall and 5-22 in conference. The Colonels missed out on the postseason for the first time since 2015.
McNeese (30-24, 18-8 SLC) jumped out to a six-run advantage with a pair of three-run frames in the first and second, then added another in the fifth. Leading 9-2, the Cowgirls scored one in the sixth to put the run-rule into play and went on to claim the victory.
Despite the loss, Colonel freshman
Ashlyn Reavis posted a 3-for-3 day and secured her name in the record books, becoming just the fifth player in team history to finish with a .400 batting average. Reavis headed into the game at .409 and upped it to .424, placing her third on the single-season all-time list. She also ended her rookie campaign on a 10-game hitting streak.
Nicholls totaled seven hits in the setback with senior
Skylar Hamilton adding two in her final showing in Thibodaux. She singled in the first and scored when Reavis nearly left the park with a run-scoring double.
Before the Colonels came to the plate, McNeese needed only five pitches to score the first run when Cori McCrary homered to lead off the game. A bunt single and a run-scoring double ended freshman
Brittney Turner's outing early, and the Cowgirls were able to add one more in the inning against
Alexis LaBure.
In the second, McNeese used a pair of doubles to go up 6-1. The Colonels got one back in the third after loading the bases with no outs but left two of the runners stranded.
McNeese broke open the game in the fifth with a 3-run homer by Rebekah DiLavore. After two scoreless innings of relief,
Jordan Moon allowed the first two batters on in the fifth before DiLavore left the yard for a 9-2 lead.
The Cowgirls scored the final run on a Tori Perrin RBI double in the sixth. In the bottom half,
Kennedy Hebert reached on an infield single before the next three batters were retired.
Ashley Vallejo picked up the win with one earned run in 5.0 innings.
