THIBODAUX, La. - Needing a victory to secure its second series victory in as many weekends, the Nicholls State University softball team came up short in both games of its doubleheader against UIW with 12-4 and 5-2 losses on Friday at Swanner Field.

Nicholls slipped to 10-16 overall and 3-3 in the Southland while UIW improved to 14-11 and 3-3.

Game 1 - UIW 12, Nicholls 4 (6 inn.)

UIW hit a pair of grand slams to pick up a 12-4 victory in six innings to even up the series.

Nicholls jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings but could not push across another run the rest of the way. Brynne Songy doubled in a run in the first before Erin Krause singled in a pair in the second to cap a three-run frame.

But UIW would total 11 runs with three swings of the bat. Jaisy Caceres started the scoring with a three-run double in the third. In the fourth, Victoria Altamirano lofted a high fly to dead center and the wind carried it just enough for a grand slam and a 7-4 lead.

UIW added another run in the sixth before Caceres belted a shot over the left field wall for the Cardinals second grand slam. 

Nicholls had two infield singles in the bottom half but both were left stranded to end the game via run-rule.

Sierra Ouellette took the loss with four runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of relief. Samantha Portillo also came out of the bullpen and secured the win for UIW with 4.1 shutout innings.

Game 2 - UIW 5, Nicholls 2

The Colonels scored two runs in the opening frame but once again, could not produce any runs against Portilla as UIW rallied for a 5-2 victory.

A leadoff double by Claire Sisco and a bunt single paved the way for a Songy two-run single. However, Portilla subbed in to start the second and tossed 5.2 shutout innings.

Molly Yoo had her own shutout innings streak extended to 12 after tossing three hitless frames. However, a dribbler back to the circle in the fourth made way for UIW's first run. Then in the fifth, the Cardinals tied it on a RBI bunt single by Ryleigh Mata.

UIW took the lead on a sacrifice fly in the sixth and added two insurance runs in the seventh. For the Colonels, Sisco and Krause drew two-out walks before Larissa Jacquez finished off a one-out save.

Songy led Nicholls at the plate with a 2-for-4 outing. Yoo finished with five runs allowed on nine hits. 

ON DECK
Nicholls will head on the road to take on Southern Miss on Wednesday, March 19 with first pitch set for 6 p.m.