THIBODAUX, La. - After suffering a 3-1 loss in Friday's opening game against Southeastern, the Nicholls State University softball team earned a split after Erin Krause hit an RBI single with two outs in the seventh for a 4-3 victory at Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park. 

Nicholls (24-21, 11-6 SLC) used two strong complete games in the circle by Molly Yoo and Audrey McNeill to limit Southeastern (37-9, 14-3 SLC) to a combined six runs in the twin bill. The Lady Lions entered the weekend averaging nearly seven runs a game in conference play. The defense also turned in a handful of outstanding plays, including a catch at the wall by Gabby Higbee that saved three runs from scoring in Game 2.

Nicholls and SLU will conclude the series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.

Game 1 - SLU 3, Nicholls 1

Reagan Hefliin doubled in the third to put Nicholls ahead but Southeastern would score three unanswered runs for a 3-1 victory.

Heflin finished 2 for 3 at the plate as the Colonels totaled five hits against Cera Blanchard. Claire Sisco set up Heflin's RBI after reaching on a two-out single and advancing on an error. But it was the only blemish for Blanchard as she struck out seven in the complete game.

Molly Yoo also tossed all seven innings for the Colonels, striking out three while allowing eight hits. After SLU fell behind, they answered in the fourth with RBI base knocks by Maddie Watson and Audrey Greely. Then in the seventh, Watson drove in an insurance run on a sacrifice fly.

Nicholls had a chance to tie the game in the sixth but left two runners on. Heflin started the inning with a bunt single and Krause reached on an error on her sac bunt. Riley Rutherford moved the runners over on a bunt but Blanchard forced a lineout and a popout to preserve the 2-1 advantage. 

Game 2 - Nicholls 4, SLU 3

With two outs and a runner on third, Erin Krause blooped a single into left field to give the Colonels a 4-3 walk-off win over Southeastern.

Claire Sisco set up the winning run after reaching on a one-out bunt and advancing on a throwing error by pitcher Ellie DuBois. Reagan Heflin moved her over on a groundout and Krause delivered the game-winner on a 2-1 offering.

The win snapped a home seven-game skid in the series against Southeastern. Nicholls will have a chance to win a series against SLU for the first time since 2019.

McNeill struck out five in the complete game victory, surrendering three earned runs on seven hits. After Lexi Johnson gave SLU a 3-2 advantage in fifth with an RBI double, McNeill retired the final seven batters for her 10th win of the season.

Southeastern struck first when Audrey Greely doubled home a run in the second. Then in the fourth, a walk and two singles filled the bags for the visitors with one out. McNeill picked up a strikeout before Ka'Lyn Watson drove a deep fly towards the right center gap. Gabby Higbee was able to chase it down as she fell into the wall and held on to the ball to keep the deficit at 1-0. 

In the bottom half, Higbee had a rare two-RBI bunt single to put Nicholls on top. With two down and runners on second and third, Higbee put down a perfect bunt between the pitcher and third base. She beat out the throw and Andersen hustled in all the way from second for a 2-1 advantage.

The Lady Lions answered once again with two runs in the fifth. The Colonels allowed a run to score on a double steal and Lexi Johnson hit a double over Andersen in right for an RBI. However, Nicholls responded with three consecutive singles in the bottom half to tie the game at 3-3, scoring on a single up the middle off the bat of Krause. 

Heflin and Krause finished with two hits each. DuBois suffered the loss for SLU, giving up one earned run on seven hits in 6.2 innings.