Softball: Big fourth inning leads No. 8 LSU past Nicholls

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team trailed No. 8 LSU by a single run heading into the fourth inning, but the Tigers pushed across 11 runs thanks to eight hits and four Colonel errors, as Nicholls was defeated in five innings, 12-1, Wednesday night in Tiger Park.

With the loss, Nicholls fell to 15-14 overall and saw its three-game winning streak come to an end. LSU improved to 29-6 as it extended its streak to seven games.

After the big fourth inning for the Tigers, Nicholls was still without a hit against Shelby Wickersham. But with one out, Kasey Frederick broke up the no-hit bid with a single to right center. She then advanced to second on a wild pitch and with two down, Corynn Major singled to center and Frederick scored on a bad throw to the plate.

Megan Landry (12-6) suffered the loss, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and struck out two in 3.1 innings. The Tigers scored in the first against Landry on an Amanda Sanchez base hit up the middle, but she would leave two stranded in the first and second innings before tossing a perfect third.

But in the fourth, LSU went up 4-0 on a 3-run homer to center by Michaela Schlattman. Landry left the game after an out and Emily Danehower took over in the circle, but 10 straight Tigers would reach base either by a hit, an error or via a walk. Alexis LaBure ended the inning with a strikeout and a groundout.

Needing five runs to avoid the run-rule, the Colonels were able to prevent being no-hit for the first time since 2014 while avoiding their sixth shutout of the year but fell in five innings.

For the Colonels, Samantha Dares and Amanda Gianelloni each reached on walks in the first and third innings, respectively.

Including Schlattman, LSU had four players with two hits. Wickersham struck out five and walked a pair.

ON DECK
Nicholls will begin its 13-game homestand this weekend with a series against Sam Houston State. Friday’s doubleheader is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.

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For the latest news on Colonel Softball, follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_SB.