COMMERCE, Texas - After allowing Texas A&M-Commerce to score in the seventh inning to force extras in a 5-4 loss, the Nicholls State University softball team exploded in Game 2 with a 15-6 run-rule victory at Cain Family Field.
The teams will close out the series with a Saturday first pitch scheduled for noon.
Game 1 - Texas A&M-Commerce 5, Nicholls 4 (8 innings)
Helped by an early 2-run home run by
Samantha Gwiazda, the Colonels carried a 4-2 lead through four innings before the Lions scored one in the fifth and another in the seventh to force an extra inning, leading to a 5-4 victory for Texas A&M-Commerce.
Brynne Songy (3 hits) and
Molly VandenBout (2) accounted for half of the Colonels' 10 hits and RBIs. With the game tied at 2-2 in the fourth, each delivered an RBI single for the 4-2 advantage. VandenBout also scored on Gwiazda's homer to center field in the second inning.
A&M-Commerce immediately answered with a 2-run double by Ayanna Williams in the bottom half. Then trailing by two in the fifth, Diamond Sefe pulled TAMC within a run with an RBI single.
In the seventh, the Lions tied it up on a one-out base hit by pinch hitter Tatum Wright.
Brittney Turner escaped the inning with no further damage, but an infield single, a walk and an error led to the game-winning run in the eighth.
Audrey McNeill made the start in the circle, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and struck out four. Julia Sanchez picked up the win with a complete game despite allowing 10 hits and striking out none. She stranded a runner in scoring position in the fifth and eighth innings.
Game 2 - Nicholls 15, Texas A&M-Commerce 6 (6 innings)
The Colonels wasted no time in setting the tone in the night cap with five runs in the first two innings as they went on to earn their second run-rule victory in Southland Conference play with a 15-6 triumph.
Nicholls racked up 15 hits in the victory and took advantage of five Lion errors.
Abby Andersen and
Erin Krause both totaled three hits while
Melise Gossen and
MaKynli Miller finished with two each.
A Lion error allowed two runs score in the first, then the Colonels scored three more in the second. Andersen and
Claire Sisco both drove in a run and the third run scored thanks to another Lion miscue.
Leading 5-0,
Alexa Poche' put the run-rule into play with a 3-run home run to the opposite field. But A&M-Commerce scored in the fourth and fifth innings to keep the game going at 10-3.
The Colonels then pieced together a five-run sixth to go up 15-3. Miller drove in a run on a sac fly/error and Krause followed with a 2-run single. Gossen capped the inning with a 2-run double.
The Lions rallied again for three more runs in the bottom of the frame, but
Averi Paden left the bags full with a strikeout to seal the Colonel victory.
Molly Yoo earned the win, allowing one earned run on three hits in 3.2 innings. The true freshman improved to 7-3 on the season.
