Softball: Colonels win streak snapped at Southern Miss

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Nicholls State University softball team saw its 10-game winning streak come to an end as Southern Miss hit two home runs in a five-run fourth to down the Colonels, 7-1, Tuesday night at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.

Nicholls fell to 26-17 overall while Southern Miss extended its own winning streak to 10 games, improving to 27-16.

Megan Landry (20-9) suffered her first loss in her last eight starts, allowing six earned runs on seven hits. She struck out four in 4.1 innings before leaving the game for Emily Danehower, who gave up a hit in 1.2 innings of relief.

The Colonels were limited to four hits against three Southern Miss pitchers. Kasey Frederick homered in the first inning for the lone run of the game, and Amanda Gianelloni and Samantha Dares added doubles. Corynn Major had the other hit with a single in the fourth. In addition to being held to four hits, Nicholls stranded seven runners on base.

Three of the stranded runners came in the second after Dares led off the frame with her double. Caitlin Garcia and Major drew a pair of one-out walks, but Bailie Springfield would get out of the jam by retiring the next two.

Nicholls left two on again in the fourth, and Southern Miss finally got the offense going against Landry in the bottom half. Landry sat down the first 10 batters she faced before a catcher’s interference put a runner on base with one out. The next batter, Lacey Sumerlin, gave USM the lead with a two-run homer to left. Later in the inning, Sarah Van Schaik made it 5-1 Golden Eagles with a three-run shot.

Gianelloni doubled to lead off the fifth, but once again, Nicholls could not manufacture another run. Southern Miss added the final runs with a two-run triple in the bottom half.

Kaylan Ladner picked up the win with 2.0 innings of relief.

Despite the loss for Landry, the Colonel ace set a new program record with her 111th career start. The previous mark of 110 was held by Christi Mitchell Crowdus, who played from 1986-89.

UP NEXT
Nicholls will head to Lake Charles for a three-game series against McNeese. Friday’s opener is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.