HOUSTON, Texas - After the Nicholls State University softball team took a brief lead in the fourth inning, Houston answered with a pair of two-run doubles and it was more than enough as the Colonels fell 5-1 Thursday night in the opening day of the Houston Classic.

Nicholls (4-3) was limited to a lone hit which came on a single by Gabby Higbee to lead off the game. But in the fourth, Rylie Rutherford walked and later scored to give Nicholls a 1-0 advantage. However, after shutting out the Cougars through the first three innings, Audrey McNeill allowed four runs on three hits as Houston took the lead for good.

In the sixth, Jordee Wilkins added a run on a sacrifice fly. She had one of the two-run doubles in the fourth to lead the team with three RBIs. 

Molly Yoo tossed 2.2 innings with one run scored on one hit. She tallied two strikeouts but also hit two batters. McNeill lasted 3.2 innings with four earned runs on four hits and walked three. 

Although the Colonels only had the one hit from Higbee, six different players drew a walk. Two came in the second but both runners were stranded. Then in the fourth, Rutherford's walk led to a run scored on a wild pitch. 

Nicole Bodeux earned the win, throwing 3.2 innings of relief with no hits allowed but walked four. 

ON DECK
Nicholls will continue play in the Houston Classic on Friday with a 1:30 p.m. game against UTSA before taking on UMass at 4 p.m.