Nicholls Notes: Lady Colonels split Sunday games with Northwestern St.

From NSU Sports Information

The Colonels fell to in-state rival Northwestern State in the first game 7-0, but fired back in the second contest to beat the Demons 6-4 to split Sunday’s doubleheader.†

“We struggled offensively in the first game, but stepped it up in the second game to get the win,” said head coach Jenny Parsons. “The team never gave up, and it showed in the doubleheader today.”

The Colonels (18-13, 9-5) scored at least one run in the final four innings in the second contest against the Demons (19-20, 11-7) to prevail 6-4.†Northwestern State drew first blood in the top of the third when the Demons’ Amanda Jameson singled up the middle to bring home Lyndsey Gorski and Margaret Patterson.†The Demons’ failed to score again in the inning as they went on top 2-0.

Nicholls responded in their half of the third by scoring two runs of their own. The inning was powered by a lead off single by senior Jennifer Campbell, and sophomore Danielle Clayton followed suit with a single through the left side to put two runners on for the Colonels.†Nicholls did not score until senior Leah Peterson scorched one up the middle that scored Campbell from second.†Senior Jacqueline Pacheco reached on an error, and in the process scored Clayton to tie the game at two a piece.

The scoring entourage continued for the Colonels in the bottom of the fourth by putting two more runs on the scoreboard.†Junior Rachel Pugh scored on a sacrifice fly to deep right field by Clayton to make the score 3-2. Sophomore Gabby Lemaire then reached on an error that brought home Campbell to give the Colonels a 4-2 edge heading into the fifth inning.

The Demons came out swinging in the top of the fifth, and scored two runs to tie the game at four.†Northwestern State’s Patterson hit a triple down the right field line that brought in Gorski, and then Amanda Glenn hit into the fielder’s choice that brought home Gorski to even up the score.

Kristen Lindley was pulled in the top of the bottom of the fifth by Northwestern State, and replaced by Glenn who then gave up the go ahead run to the Colonels on a solo homerun by junior Amy Thibodeaux.†After five complete, the Colonels were on top 5-4.

Northwestern State failed to score any runs in their half of the sixth, but the Colonels tacked on an insurance run thanks to a pinch hit triple to right field by junior Kat Harrell that scored Clayton from second.†The Demons failed to score in the top of the seventh, and the Colonels went onto win 6-4.†Junior Krystalin Ensminger picked up the win to improve to 11-8 on the season, while the Demon’s Glenn was credited with the loss to fall to 11-9 on the season.

The Demons blanked Nicholls in the first game of the doubleheader by the score of 7-0 behind strong pitching by Glenn.†

Glenn went the distance, and allowed only three hits while fanning eight Colonels in the process. Junior Jessica Barksdale was marked with the loss to fall to 2-2 on the season.

Nicholls will be back in action at Stephen F. Austin on Friday April 6.†The first game of the doubleheader is slated for 3 p.m. in Nacogdoches, Texas, and will be followed by the second contest at 5 p.m.†The series will conclude on Saturday April 7 at Noon.

Nicholls’ baseball swept by McNeese St.

The Lamar Cardinals claimed both games Sunday afternoon, 11-1 and 11-10, to take the three-game conference series from the Nicholls Colonels at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

The Colonels drop to 4-25 overall and 0-9 in Southland Conference play. The Cardinals improved to 21-11 on the season and 8-1 in conference action.

In game two, the score was tied 10-10 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Keith Towne singled to right field with two outs. Pinch-runner Taylor Prudhomme stole second base and Travis Dunson singed to center field to drive Prudhomme in with the game-winning run.

Lamar starter Allen Harrington (4-2) tossed a complete-game, allowing one unearned run on two hits with no walks and recorded 10 strikeouts. He retired 18 in a row at one point and finished the game by retiring 19 of the final 20 batters he faced.

Ross Larson (1-5) started and took the loss for Nicholls. He allowed seven runs on 10 hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Bourne led the Colonels at the plate, finishing 1-for-3 with a run scored.