MONROE, La. - The Nicholls State University softball team clawed back to take Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader at ULM, 5-4, but the Warhawks cruised in Game 2 with a run-rule victory to secure the series win over the Colonels for the second straight season.

Nicholls (12-10) continues its road swing on Tuesday with a matchup at Southern.

Game 1 - Nicholls 5, ULM 4

After falling behind 4-0 in the first inning, the Colonels scored three in the second and went on to plate a total of five unanswered in the 5-4 victory over the Warhawks.

ULM (16-10) used four hits, three walks and an error to take the early lead against Averi Paden. But Rylie Rutherford got two of the runs back in the second with her first homer of the season. Nicholls added one more run on an error.

The Colonels then tied it up at 4-4 in the fourth. Abby Andersen and Samantha Gwiazda both had one-out singles before an error helped aid a Claire Sisco RBI on a fielder's choice.

The score remained even until the seventh when pinch runner Laylin Sturm scored on a wild pitch. Molly VandenBout led off the frame with a walk and Sturm subbed in, advancing on a groundout and another wild pitch before racing home for the game-winning run. 

In the bottom half, Molly Yoo closed out her magnificent outing with a 1-2-3 seventh. Yoo allowed only two hits in 6.0 innings and struck out one for the victory.

Game 2 - ULM 12, Nicholls 0 (5)

The Warhawks used the same formula as in Saturday's opening game with a big first inning, but this time, there was no comeback for the Colonels as ULM won 12-0 in five innings.

The Colonels were outhit 13-4 with Mckenzie Champagne going 2 for 2 at the dish. Sisco and Rutherford had the other two hits. 

Starter Audrey McNeill did not make it out of the first inning, surrendering five runs on three hits and two walks. VandenBout took over in the frame and finished with three earned in 3.0 innings. Katy Sanders also pitched an inning, allowing three runs on four hits.

ULM plated six total runs in the first and scored in each of its four innings. Five different Warhawks had two hits, including Kelsey Giddens who homered and had three RBIs.