LAFAYETTE, La. - The Nicholls State University softball team battled No. 19 Louisiana to a scoreless tie through four-and-a-half innings before the Ragin' Cajuns scored nine runs in the final two frames to hand the Colonels a 9-0 loss in six innings Wednesday night at Lamson Park.

Louisiana (30-15) finally got to Molly Yoo in the fifth with a pair of runs. She left in the sixth after the first two batters reached and the Ragin' Cajuns went on to score seven runs, ending the game on a three-run homer by Laney Credeur. 

Yoo allowed four runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings of work. Averi Paden finished off the night, giving up five runs on five hits in 0.2 innings.

Nicholls (23-20) was limited to two hits in the loss and both went for extra bases. Claire Sisco led off the fourth with a double down the left field line off of starting pitcher Lexie Delbrey. She moved to third on a sacrifice before being left stranded.

Then in the fifth, Riley Rutherford hit a laser shot down the third base line and it deflected off the defender's glove, allowing her to reach second for a one-out double. Abby Andersen drew a walk but UL escaped the inning after Molly VandenBout grounded into a double play.

It was all Ragin' Cajuns the rest of the way. Yoo hit the first batter of the UL fifth and a double by Cecilia Valdez put runners in scoring position. Shortstop Samantha Gwiazda then made a running catch down the line in foul territory, but it allowed the runner to tag for the first run of the night. Maddie Hayden followed with an RBI triple for a 2-0 advantage.

In the sixth, the Cajuns scored on three RBI singles before Credeur sent everyone home with her seventh long ball of the season. 

Sam Landry earned the win for Louisiana, striking out one in 1.2 innings of hitless relief.

ON DECK
Nicholls will welcome Southeastern for a three-game series, starting Friday, April 19 with a 4 p.m. doubleheader.