First-place Colonels claim SLC series vs. ACU with 5-3 victory

THIBODAUX, La. – Junior Kasey Frederick went 2-for-2 with a home run while freshman Alexis LaBure tossed her second complete game of the weekend as the Nicholls State University softball team won its Southland Conference series against Abilene Christian with a 5-3 victory Saturday at Swanner Field.

Before the game, the program honored Neal Swanner and the Swanner Family with a field dedication ceremony. And the Colonels returned the favor by continuing their dominating play at Swanner Field, improving to 10-2 at home with the victory.

Trailing 2-0 in the fourth, Nicholls (26-11, 11-4 SLC) finally scored against ACU’s Hannah Null, who tossed 18 shutout innings in the series before Frederick’s homer bounced off the light pole in left field to cut the deficit in half. The Colonels then took the lead with three runs in the fifth on just one hit before adding another in the sixth on an RBI single by Moriah Strother for a 5-2 advantage.

Alexis LaBure (8-4) allowed a leadoff double in the seventh to Donelle Johnson but then forced groundouts against the next three batters to earn her second win of the series.

Coming off an 11-strikeout game in her five-inning win Friday, LaBure was outstanding once again, scattering seven hits and struck out three in seven innings of work. ACU took advantage of one of her three walks for the game, scoring two in the fourth on a double by Allyson Bishoff that stayed just inside the line in left.

After giving up the home run to Frederick, Null (11-10) ran into trouble in the fifth. Strother fouled off three pitches with a full count to draw a leadoff walk, and then ACU had a defensive mishap. With pinch runner Mallory Marino on first, Emma Holland put down a bunt to third, and Holly Neese overthrew first base, and the ball rolled into the right-field corner. Marino rounded third and slid home before the throw to tie the game at 2-2.

Nicholls had trouble bringing in runners against Null all weekend, stranding a total of 19 which included leaving the bases loaded in the first. But Kelsey Miller broke the drought with a grounder to third as Holland beat the throw at the plate for a 3-2 lead. Miller then stole second and reached third on an error, and pinch-hitter Yasmeen Williams delivered an RBI single to left to make it 4-2.

The Colonels had five hits against Null, who allowed three earned runs and struck out five. Amanda Gianelloni doubled in the first for the Red and Gray’s first hit of the game.

UP NEXT

The Colonels will head to Lake Charles next weekend for a three-game series against McNeese. Nicholls is currently tied for first with Northwestern State, with the Cowgirls a game back at 10-5. Friday’s opening game is scheduled for 6 p.m.