TROY, Ala. - The Nicholls State University softball team was handed a pair of run-rule defeats in the opening day of the Troy Invitational, falling 10-2 to Ole Miss before dropping an 8-0 contest to the host Trojans.

Nicholls (1-6) was able to rack up seven hits in the opening loss to the Rebels, but was nearly no-hit against Troy. The Colonels will have a rematch against the Trojans on Saturday at 3 p.m. before taking on Eastern Kentucky at 10 a.m.

Game 1 - Ole Miss 10, Nicholls 2 (5)

Ole Miss scored a combined seven runs in the third and fourth inning to take a 10-0 lead, and despite a late rally by the Colonels with two runs in the fifth, the Rebels ended the game early with a 10-2 win.

Kennedy Hebert, Alexa Poche' and Julia Kramer all had two hits while Maya Zavala added a double. Hebert and Poche' prevented the shutout with RBI singles in the fifth.

Brittney Turner took the loss, surrendering five earned runs on six hits in 2.0 innings. Taryn Westbrook allowed four runs on five hits.

Ole Miss started the game with a RBI single in the first and second innings. Aynslie Furbush had a 3-run homer in the third and Annie Orman followed with her own 3-run shot in the fifth. 

Catelyn Riley tossed all five innings for the win, striking out five.

Game 2 - Troy 8, Nicholls 0 (5)

For the second time in the last four games, the Colonels were limited to one hit as they suffered their first shutout of the season in an 8-0 loss to Troy.

Poche' singled in the fourth for the lone Nicholls hit. She moved over to third after two wild pitches but was left stranded to keep the Troy lead at 5-0.

After scoring in the bottom half of the fourth, the Trojans ended the game in the next inning on a Katie Lively 2-run single.

Paris Lehman pitched an inning for the Colonels, giving up five earned runs on six hits. Turner came in for relief, throwing 3.2 innings with three earned runs.

Nicholls totaled three base runners with Hebert and Danielle Duplay adding a walk each. Libby Baker did not start the game in the circle for the Trojans but earned the win after tossing three shutout innings. 

Troy's offense was led by Kelly Horne with three hits.