Colonels take 2 in weekend softball

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The Nicholls State University softball team is no longer undefeated in Southland Conference play.

But the Colonels still haven’t lost a weekend series, which is good enough for coach Angel Santiago and his team to feel good about where things stand.

The Colonels won two out of three games this past weekend against Stephen F. Austin – a hard-fought series that saw all of the games decided by two runs or fewer.

With the wins, Nicholls improved to 5-1 in Southland Conference play, trailing just Lamar, McNeese State and Abilene Christian – teams who are all still undefeated in league play.

Santiago said earlier this season he loved the energy and passion his team plays with, calling it the driving force that’s allowed the Colonels to turn their program around in the past few seasons.

“It’s been a long, up-hill process,” Santiago said. “It’s not always been easy. Some days, it’s been downright hard. But the kids have been great through it all. Everyone has worked hard and has done their best to improve, and we feel like all of that work is beginning to pay off for us in a really nice way.”

That series with Stephen F. Austin was pretty good theatre.

The Colonels lost a tough one on Saturday afternoon, squandering an epic performance in the circle from ace pitcher Megan Landry in the process.

Landry was flawless, allowing just one run and three hits in a complete game performance.

But a shaky fifth inning did her in, allowing Stephen F. Austin to plate the lone run of the game – an RBI single from Lauren Becker.

The Colonels had chances to take the game back in the late innings, but it never materialized.

In the sixth inning, Nicholls got the leadoff hitter to third base, but she was stranded there.

In the seventh, the ball never left the infield, which allowed Stephen F. Austin to win.

On Saturday, the Lumberjills could have won both games, as well – if not for a little seventh inning magic from Nicholls.

In the first game of the designed doubleheader, Stephen F. Austin plated three, first-inning runs on a deep home run from Amber Landry. The Lumberjills held the led throughout the game, but the Colonels cut it to 3-2, plating single runs in the fourth and sixth innings.

But in the seventh, Nicholls roared, scoring three runs to take a 5-3 lead.

After another Lumberjills home run, the lead was cut to just one run, but Nicholls stopped the bleeding, turning to pitcher Jackie Johnson in relief to get the final two outs to secure the win.

Johnson used that late-game momentum in the next game, as well, allowing just one hit in seven innings to grant her team the series victory.

The Colonels couldn’t score for most of the game to help out Johnson, carrying the game into the final inning in a scoreless tie.

But the momentum tilted in that frame when Samantha Mracich and Brooke Morris recorded consecutive RBI singles to give Nicholls a 2-0 lead and the win.

With the victories, the Colonels have positioned themselves favorable for a big week.

Nicholls traveled and played LSU in Baton Rouge on Tuesday night. No score was available for that game on press-time Monday afternoon.

The Colonels will return home this weekend for a three-game slate with Southeastern Louisiana.

The Lady Lions are 0-3 in Southland play – an opportunity for Nicholls to continue to make a push near the top end of the standings.

But Santiago said nothing should distract his team from the principles that the Colonels have used to turn around their program in recent years.

Those principles are hard work, fundamentals and an emphasis on doing the little things necessary to win softball games.

“If we play the way we’re capable of playing, it’s pretty fun,” Santiago said earlier this season. “Which, that is such a great change, because there was a time where we needed things to align perfectly or to completely fall our way to have a chance. Now, we’ve matured and grown, and we have a larger margin for error, so to speak.”

COLONELS RELEASE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

The Nicholls State University football team now knows who it will face in the 2017 football season.

The Colonels unveiled their 2017 slate last week – a challenging, 11-game schedule, which will feature just five home games.

One interesting wrinkle is how the season will start.

Instead of opening against a major-conference program like they’ve historically done, the Colonels will instead open at home in Southland Conference play – a Thursday night, opening-weekend kickoff against McNeese State on August 31.

After that game, the Colonels will play their toughest opponent of the season – a Sept. 9 meeting at Texas A&M.