Nicholls earns huge Southland sweep

Nicholls State University has enjoyed a banner year for athletics in 2017-18 with several sports either competing for or winning Southland Conference Championships.

But the year isn’t over yet.

Right now, it’s the Colonels’ softball team’s turn to chase the crown.

Nicholls softball swept a three-game weekend slate with Northwestern State University – improving the Colonels to 32-13 on the season and 15-2 on their home diamond.

But more importantly, Nicholls also improved itself to 15-6 in Southland play – enough to maintain their first-place pace.

Nicholls is currently in a three-way tie for first with McNeese State and Stephen F. Austin. Southeastern Louisiana is a game back at 14-7.

The Colonels have a chance to continue building momentum this weekend with a three-game road slate at Texas A&M – Corpus Christi – the last-place team in the league.

“It’s huge,” third baseman Jewel Lara said after the series. “It’s the biggest sweep we’ve had yet. It’s just huge.”

Nicholls won close games to get the sweep of the Lady Demons.

The Colonels took the first game of the series 4-3 – a game that truly could have gone either way.

Nicholls got off to a fast started on Friday, posting single runs in the bottom of the third and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead.

Left fielder Kasey Frederick stroked a solid base hit to plate the first run of the game in the third inning. Third baseman Jewel Lara added the insurance in the fourth with an infield single.

But the Lady Demons didn’t go down without a fight.

Northwestern State took a one-run lead in the top of the fifth inning when Cayla Jones smashed a two-out, three-run home run to put her team on top 3-2.

The Colonels then went down without a hit in the bottom of the fifth inning, which allowed the Lady Demons to hold their one-run lead into the late innings.

But Nicholls kept pushing.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lara and Frederick struck again to give Nicholls the lead and the win.

Lara posted an RBI ground-out to the third baseman, which tied the game at 3, plating Samantha Mracich, who led off the inning with a walk.

One batter later, Frederick delivered the big blow on an infield single, which put the Colonels ahead 4-3.

The Lady Demons had three outs to play with in the seventh and they put their leadoff batter on base, then advanced her to second base with one out after a sacrifice bunt.

But pitcher Megan Landry slammed the door shut from there, retiring two-straight batters to seal the win.

On Saturday, the two teams played a double header and Nicholls didn’t allow a run.

In the first-half of the double header, the Colonels dominated, scoring a mercy rule 8-0 win in a five-inning game.

Alexis LaBure controlled the game in the circle, allowing just one hit, while striking out six Lady Demons in the series-clinching win.

While LaBure controlled the action in the circle, Nicholls’ offense got rolling early and often.

The Colonels didn’t score in the first inning, but then plated runs in the four innings after, including multiple runs in the second, third and fifth innings.

Center fielder Kelsey Miller was huge in the win, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Lara was also clutch again, going 3-for-3 with 2 RBI, while Kali Clement (1-for-2, 2 RBI) and Moriah Strother (3-for-3, 3 RBI) also had huge games.

LaBure almost had a no-hitter.

The only base hit she gave up came in the top of the fifth inning.

About a half-hour after Nicholls scored the mercy-rule win, the two teams finished the series in a game which was completely different than the matinee of the day with the Colonels getting a 1-0 win.

Pitching dominated the finale with Landry and Lady Demons pitcher Micaela Bouvier locked in a scoreless tie heading into the seventh inning.

Landry finished strong.

She got Northwestern State up and down in order in the seventh, which put Nicholls back at the plate with a chance to win.

They delivered.

Corynn Major led off the inning with a triple into the alley, which placed the winning run in scoring position for Nicholls.

Miller then reached safely on a fielder’s choice, which placed runners at first and third base with no outs.

Lara delivered the final blow, stroking a solid base hit into the outfield, which plated Major and won the game.

Lara was huge in the series for Nicholls, posting huge performances in all three games.

She said she worked heavily on her hitting stroke throughout the week, which enabled her to have the success.

“This past weekend, I wasn’t hitting too great,” Lara said. “I had to make a couple of adjustments at the plate. I noticed that pitchers tend to pitch me way out. I had to make an adjustment. I just kept the bat on my shoulder a little bit longer.”

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