THIBODAUX, La. - Hosting an SEC program for the first time since 2014, the Nicholls State University softball team was unable to pick up a victory against Ole Miss as the Colonels dropped both games of their Wednesday doubleheader, falling 4-1 and 9-1 to the Rebels on Swanner Field at GeoSurfaces Park.
Game 1 - Ole Miss 4, Nicholls 1
Ole Miss (18-7) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and it was more than enough for starting pitcher Makenna Kliethermes as the Colonels were defeated 5-1 in the opening game.
After the Rebels took the lead on a Lexie Brady homer in the first, Nicholls (15-12) threatened to even up the score by getting two runners on in each of the first three innings but could not come up with a big hit. Kliethermes settled in and retired 11 straight batters in the latter innings before the Colonels were able to push across an unearned run in the seventh.
Nicholls totaled five hits with
Reagan Heflin leading the way with two. She singled in the opening frame and led off the third with a double but was left stranded both times.
Molly VandenBout had a first-inning single and
Alexa Poche' singled with two down in the third.
Claire Sisco had the final hit with an RBI single in the seventh for the Colonels' lone run.
Averi Paden (3-2) made the start in the circle and tossed four innings, allowing four runs on four hits with one strikeout.
Molly Yoo threw three shutout innings with two hits allowed.
Aynslie Furbush drove in the other two runs for the Rebels with a two-run double in the fourth. Jalia Lassiter led Ole Miss with two hits and two runs scored.
Kliethermes struck out 10 in her complete game victory.
Game 2 - Ole Miss 9, Nicholls 1
Nicholls struck first with an RBI double by
Alexa Poche', but two big innings lifted Ole Miss to a doubleheader sweep with a 9-1 victory in Game 2.
Audrey McNeill shut out the Rebels through the first three innings before they put together five runs in the fourth. Lexie Brady started the scoring with a two-run homer to center field. In the seventh, Ole Miss had four hits to plate four runs against
Molly Yoo to make the final.
Erin Krause led the Colonels at the plate, tallying two of the team's seven hits.
Claire Sisco,
Molly VandenBout,
Mckenzie Champagne and
Laylin Sturm all had singles.
Ole Miss had 12 hits with Jaden Pone and Annie Orman registering three each. McNeill (7-7) threw six innings in the loss, striking out six while allowing four earned runs on eight hits. Yoo pitched the final inning, surrendering four runs on four hits.
Catelyn Riley earned the win, striking out eight in the complete game.
ON DECK
Nicholls will continue its home stand this weekend with a three-game series against McNeese. Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m.
