COMMERCE – The Nicholls Colonels took a 6-2 win in the rubber game over the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team on Saturday afternoon at the John Cain Family Softball Complex.
 
This weekend was the Southland Conference opening series for the Lions, who drop to 1-2 in SLC play and 5-21 overall. Nicholls improves to 4-2 in conference play and 17-10 overall.
 
"We are making steady progress every weekend," said coach Brittany Miller. "We just need to continue to stick to the game plan and the results will follow!"
 
Abby Andersen led off the game with a base hit, Claire Sisco followed with a walk. Erin Krause had an infield hit to load the bases with no outs. Melisse Gossen drove in Andersen with a sacrifice fly to right. Alexa Poche' brought home Sisco on an RBI groundout for the Colonels scoring two in the first.
 
In the fifth, Brynne Songy singled to lead off the inning and was pinch run for by Brianna McFaddin. McKenzie Champagne singled to right, followed by a one-run single by Andersen that brought home McFaddin, while Songy moved to third and Andersen went to second on the throw.
 
After Champagne was picked off, the Lions had a dropped fly ball in foul territory that kept the inning going. Sisco and Krause had back-to-back singles to load the bases. Gossen brought in another run with a sacrifice fly to center.
 
Sisco walked and then stole second in the seventh. Krause reached on a single and moved Sisco to third, who scored on a sacrifice fly by Gossen. Molly VandenBout drove in Krause with a base hit to center, but was tagged out on the play to end the inning.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Emma Olsen (Elk Grove, Calif.) led off the inning with a base hit to center. Tatum Wright (Frisco – Centennial) came in as a pinch hitter and drew a walk. KK Cosek (Helendale, Calif.) advanced both runners on a groundout and Olsen scored on an RBI groundout by Ayanna Williams (Round Rock – Cedar Ridge).
 
Camile Nunez (Madera, Calif.) tripled to left center that scored Wright and a sharp line drive was caught by the Nicholls' second baseman to end the game.
 
For Nicholls, Krause went 4 for 4, while Andersen had two hits. Audrey McNeill went the distance for the Colonels in the circle. She moves to 7-3 on the season, allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out five.
 
Nunez and Olsen had two hits each to combine for four of the team's six hits in the game. Julia Sanchez pitched another complete game, but took the loss to drop to 3-6 on the season. She allowed 12 hits, three walks for five earned runs, while striking out three.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions are on the road for their next two series, beginning with the series at defending conference champion, McNeese, next weekend. Game one of the series is at 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday.