MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Nicholls State University softball team fell behind early in an 8-2 loss to Lindenwood before Murray State broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh with three runs as the Colonels dropped both games on opening day of the Stinger Classic, hosted by Alabama State.
Nicholls (0-2) will aim for their first wins on Saturday against the host Lady Hornets (1:30 p.m.) and Southern Indiana (3:45 p.m.).
Game 1 - Lindenwood 8, Nicholls 2
Lindenwood pieced together a five-run second inning and it was more than enough to claim a win in both teams' season opener.
Nicholls totaled seven hits in the loss with
Claire Sisco and
Reagan Heflin recording two each. But the Colonels stranded 12 runners in the loss, coming away empty after loading the bases in two different frames.
The Lions struck in the second with five hits on five runs. Sierra Ouelette left after the inning, finishing with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings.
Nicholls threatened in the third when Sisco singled, Krause walked, and Heflin loaded the bags with a base hit. But after a grounder to the pitch led to a putout at home, the Lions then turned a double play to end the inning.
After Lindenwood scored in the fourth, Nicholls cracked the scoring column in the bottom half with two runs.
Madison Moak singled through the right side for an RBI. Then with runners in scoring position with two down, Krause drove in one with a base hit but the second was thrown out at home.
Nicholls loaded the bases again in the fifth but a strikeout kept the score at 6-2. Lindenwood then added two runs in the seventh to make the final.
Averi Paden pitched 5.0 innings of relief, allowing three runs on 10 hits.
Game 2 - Murray State 5, Nicholls 2
Nicholls and Murray State were deadlocked heading into the final inning, but the Racers came up with three hits and took advantage on a Colonel error to rally late for the win.
The Colonels had just two hits in the loss, one each by Heflin and
Gabby Higbee. Heflin's hit came in the first inning as Nicholls took advantage of three free passes, the last being a
Laylin Sturm hit-by-pitch which resulted in a run. But the Colonels left the bases loaded for the third time on the day.
In the third, Murray State took a brief 2-1 lead with a two-out double. In the bottom half, Helfin reached on another HBP before Higbee drilled a run-scoring double to left center.
Molly Yoo followed with three shutout innings before the late Murray State rally. She suffered the loss, allowing four earned on nine hits in 6.1 innings. Yoo struck out four before
Ashley Little recorded the last two outs in her Colonel debut.
