TROY, Ala. - The Nicholls State University softball team put together a stellar day at the Trojan Invitational on Friday, run-ruling Kennesaw State, 12-2, in five innings before hanging on to defeat ranked Troy, 6-5, at the Troy Softball Complex.

Nicholls (8-3) opened the day by erupting for 12 runs on 14 hits behind a complete game effort from Molly Yoo. The Colonels then returned under the lights and built an early cushion against Troy, which is ranked No. 20 in the latest D1Softball Mid-Major Top 25 Poll, holding off a late rally to push their winning streak to five games.

The Colonels finish off the weekend on Saturday with an 8:30 a.m. game against Furman before taking on Omaha at 1:30 p.m.

Game 1 - Nicholls 12, Kennesaw State 2 (5 inn.)

Nicholls wasted no time setting the tone in the opener, plating six runs in the first inning and never looking back in a five-inning run-rule victory.

The 14 hits was the third time this season the offense has produced double figures in hits. It was also the third game with 10 or more runs. 

Claire Sisco ignited the offense with a leadoff single and stolen base before Kayleigh Lugowski delivered an RBI knock. Reagan Heflin's two-run double to left-center broke the game open early as the Colonels jumped out to a 6-0 advantage after one.

After adding a run in the second, Nicholls plated five in the third. Laylin Sturm started the scoring with an RBI double, then she and Sisco pulled off a double steal for another run. Brynne Songy drove in a run and then two bases-loaded walks capped the inning. 

Six Colonels had two hits in the victory - Sisco, Lugowski, Heflin, Songy, Erin Krause, and Madison Moak. 

In the circle, Molly Yoo tossed all five innings to improve to 4-1 on the year. She allowed just four hits and two runs while striking out three. The two runs came in the final frame.

Game 2 - Nicholls 6, Troy 5

Facing the host Trojans in the nightcap, Nicholls once again jumped ahead early and proved resilient down the stretch.

The Colonels broke through in the second inning when Sisco delivered a two-RBI single to score Lilianna Robledo and Moak. An inning later, Nicholls extended the lead to 5-0 behind RBI singles from Heflin and Gabby Higbee, along with Moak's RBI double to right center.

Troy scored in fourth on a solo home run by Ella Cunningham, but the Colonels responded in the fifth. Heflin reached on an error, stole second and eventually scored on another Trojan miscue to push the advantage to 6-1.

Averi Paden was strong in her start, allowing just one run over 4.1 innings while striking out four. Yoo entered in relief in the fifth and navigated traffic before closing out the final out with the tying run on base.

Troy mounted a dramatic two-out rally in the seventh, highlighted by a three-run homer off the bat of Kamryn Munson. The Trojans then loaded the bases after two singles and an intentional walk, but Yoo finished off the night with a swinging strikeout.

Sisco tallied two hits while Moak recorded two doubles and an RBI.