Softball: Eight-run third lifts Colonels to run-rule win Friday over Hofstra

MOBILE, Ala. – Senior Kali Clement hit a grand slam to cap an eight-run third inning and Megan Landry delivered another stellar performance in the circle as the Nicholls State University softball team started the Mardi Gras Invitational with an 11-1 victory in five innings Friday morning at Jaguar Stadium.

The Colonels (8-4) had four hits in the big inning and took advantage of two Hofstra (0-5) errors to break open the game. Clement’s first homer of the season doubled the lead and after Nicholls added another run in the fourth to put the run rule back into play, they tacked on two more in the fifth.

Landry upped her record to 7-1 on the season, allowing three hits and an unearned run in 4.0 innings. She added five strikeouts and walked none. Alexis LaBure pitched the fifth, surrendering a hit and struck out one.

Nicholls had nine hits off of Hofstra’s Madison Burns (0-3), who was only charged with three earned runs in her five innings. She fanned one batter and walked four.

Corynn Major and Emman Holland had two hits each for the Colonels and were responsible for driving in the first two runs of the third. After Nicholls loaded the bases with no outs, Major brought one run in after reaching on an error, and Holland singled another in on a base hit to left. Amanda Gianelloni made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly.

With the bases still loaded and two outs, Samantha Dares kept the inning going with an RBI single. Clement, who led off the frame with a walk, took a 2-1 offering over the left field wall for the Colonels’ second grand slam of the season.

The Pride got one back after an error led to a run in the bottom of the third, but singles by Major and Gianelloni led to an unearned run for the Colonels in the fourth for a 9-1 lead.

In the fifth, Nicholls scored two on a Mallory Marino groundout and another hit by Major. Kennedy Hebert doubled earlier in the inning and scored the game’s final run.

LaBure faced five batters to close it out, retiring the first two in order. Following an infield single and a walk, she forced a flyout to end the game.

UP NEXT
Nicholls will take on Hofstra again on Saturday at 9 a.m. before playing Illinois at 11:15. Rain in the area altered the rest of Friday’s schedule, so please check @Nicholls_SB for the latest updates.

FOLLOW ALONG
The Colonel softball team can be followed all season long on Twitter @Nicholls_SB.