MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Nicholls State University softball team pieced together a complete day Saturday, rolling to a doubleheader sweep with a 14-6 win over Alabama State followed by a 9-1 run-rule victory against Southern Indiana.
The Colonels (2-2) combined for 23 runs and 25 hits across the two games while getting steady pitching to wrap up the Stinger Classic with two wins.
Nicholls is back in action next weekend in the Mardi Gras Mambo, held at the Youngsville Sports Complex.
Game 1: Nicholls 14, Alabama State 6
Nicholls broke the opener open early, scoring 11 runs over the second and third innings and never looking back in a 14–6 win over Alabama State. The Colonels finished with 15 hits and capitalized on Alabama State's 10 errors to pull away.
The Colonels struck first in the top of the second inning, erupting for six runs on five hits. After a leadoff walk,
Madison Moak doubled to drive in the game's first run, and the Colonels kept the line moving with a mix of timely singles and aggressive baserunning.
Laylin Sturm,
Claire Sisco,
Erin Krause, and
Brynne Songy all delivered run-producing hits in the inning as the Colonels jumped out to a 6–0 lead.
Nicholls added five more runs in the third, again taking advantage of defensive errors and clutch hitting. Sturm knocked in another run, Sisco and
Ally Mooneyham each drove in unearned runs, and Moak capped the inning with her second RBI-double of the game to make it 11–0.
Alabama State responded with two runs in the third and pushed four more across in the fifth to avoid the run-rule, but Nicholls went on to capture its first win of the year.
Ashley Little earned the win in the circle, striking out three over 4.2 innings, while
Molly Yoo tossed 2.1 scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
Moak finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Sturm, Sisco, and
Lilianna Robledo each recorded multi-hit performances.
Game 2: Nicholls 9, Southern Indiana 1 (5 inn.)
Nicholls carried its offensive momentum into the nightcap, scoring early and often in a 9-1 run-rule win over Southern Indiana. The Colonels built a six-run cushion in the first two innings and cruised behind strong pitching from
Averi Paden.
The Colonels wasted no time in the second game, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. After a walk and a double from Krause, Robledo singled up the middle to drive in two runs. Higbee later reached on an error to bring home another run, giving the Red and Gray a quick 3–0 advantage.
Nicholls added three more runs in the second inning, with Robledo picking up an RBI after being hit by a pitch.
Reagan Heflin capped the inning with a two-run single to push the lead to 6–0.
After a quiet third inning, the Colonels broke it open in the fourth. Higbee knocked in a run with a single, and Moak followed with a two-run base hit, extending the lead to 9–0.
Southern Indiana scored its lone run in the fourth inning, but it was not enough to keep the Colonels from a run-rule victory.
Robledo led the offense with three RBIs, while she and Krause each had multiple hits as the Colonels finished the nightcap with 10 hits.
Paden allowed four hits in 4.0 innings and struck out three.
Sierra Ouellette pitched the final frame and notched two strikeouts.
