THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University softball team hit a pair of home runs in its home debut but a big second inning by Southern Miss proved too much to overcome as the Colonels fell 7-3 on Wednesday night on Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park.

With the loss, Nicholls (9-4) saw its six-game winning streak come to an end. Southern Miss upped its record to 8-8 on the year.

The Golden Eagles struck first in the opening frame with a run-scoring single. In the bottom half, Claire Sisco led off with a double down the line and two batters later, Erin Krause belted a two-run shot over the right center wall for her second long ball of the season.

In the second, Southern Miss filled the bags with two singles and a walk, chasing Averi Paden out the game with one out. Molly Yoo walked in a run before Sisco made a great play at second, throwing out the runner at home to save a run. But the next batter, Kayce Bennett, drove a 2-0 pitch in the left center gap to clear the bases for a 5-2 advantage.

Facing her former squad, Madison Moak homered with two down in the second to cut the deficit to two. But it would be the last run the Colonels could push across the plate against Kayla Giardina, who allowed just three hits the rest of the way.

Sisco and Krause led the offense with two hits each, and Reagan Heflin added a double.

Paden (3-1) allowed four runs and struck out one in 1.1 innings. Yoo threw the rest of the game, giving up two earned runs on seven hits.

Giardina (4-2) picked up the win with one strikeout and no walks in the complete game effort.

Hannah Christian and Kinsley Gordon-Sivley each had three hits for the visitors.

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Nicholls will head to Baton Rouge for the LSU Invitational. Friday's action starts at 11 a.m. against Iowa.