COMMERCE – The Nicholls Colonels totaled three runs each in the second inning of both games on Friday afternoon on their way to a 6-2 and 4-2 doubleheader sweep over the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team at Swanner Field.
 
Game 1: NICHOLLS 6, A&M-COMMERCE 2
Tehya Pitts (Denton – Guyer) singled to right center to lead off the game, followed by a steal to second. Diamond Sefe (Carson, Calif.) reached on a fielding error, as Pitts advanced to third. Sefe was caught stealing second, but Charli Anger (Lubbock – Cooper) drove in Pitts with an RBI base hit to left.
 
To lead off the top of the second, Kasey Kuyrkendall (Royse City) hit an infield single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Emmie Miehe (Cameron Park, Calif.). Isabella Arzola (Chino, Calif.) followed with a single to center and advanced to second on the throw, while Kuyrkendall advanced to third and she came around to score on an RBI groundout by Ashlynn Griffith (Cedar Hill).
 
McKenzie Champagne singled to left center to start the bottom of the second. After a fly out, Laylin Sturm advanced Champagne to third on a sacrifice bunt. Lillianna Robledo drew a walk and Brynne Songy singled to right to bring in Champagne. Claire Sisco was hit by a pitch, which forced a Lion pitching change.
 
Reagan Heflin put the Colonels up front with a two-run single to left center, while she advanced to second. The Colonels had runners at second and third with two outs, but did not plate either.
 
For the second straight inning, Champagne was the lead-off batter and she drew a walk in the third, while coming all the way around to score on a RBI double to left center by Abby Andersen.
 
In the sixth, Heflin singled through the right side and a Lion pitching change followed. Emily Krause singled to the shortstop, while both runners advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt by Gabby Higbee. Champagne added two more runs on the board with a two-run single up the middle.
 
The Lions left four runners on base, while the Colonels left 10. Champagne went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and a walk, while both Krause and Heflin went 2 for 3 each.
 
Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) allowed three earned runs in 1.2 innings for the loss, while Audrey McNeill got the complete-game win, allowing an earned run, while striking out four.
 
Game 2: NICHOLLS 4, A&M-COMMERCE 2
Three of the four runs for Nicholls in the game were scored in the second. Alexa Poche' was hit by a pitch, followed by a base hit from Andersen to shortstop. Carmella Muccilli sacrifice bunted over both runners, while Songy drove in Poche' with an RBI groundout.
 
Andersen stole third and was plated by Samantha Gwiazda, who singled to shortstop. Sisco was hit by a pitch to continue the inning and Gwiazda scored on a one-run single to center by Heflin.
 
Kuyrkendall reached on a fielding error with two outs in the fourth and scored on a pinch hit double to right by Stephanie Tapia (Yuma, Ariz.).
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Krause doubled up the middle, Champagne walked, but the Lions got the next two outs, while both runners stayed put. Muccilli drew a walk and caught the Lions off-guard trying to steal second as Krause scored on a throwing error.
 
Pitts singled through the left side with two outs in the seventh and Sefe hit a ground-rule double to left center. Anger followed with a single to left center with Pitts easily scoring, but Sefe was tagged out at the plate to end the game.
 
Griffith went 2 for 2 in the second game, while the top four batters in the Lion order had a hit each, including the top three recording a hit each in the seventh. A&M-Commerce left six on base.
 
Both Heflin and Andersen went 2 for 3 each in the game for the Colonels, who left nine on base. Averi Paden allowed seven hits and two walks but got the complete-game win.
 
Maddie Muller (Frisco – Memorial) was charged with the loss for the Lions. She allowed three earned runs in 1.2 innings.
 
The Lions are still searching for their first Southland Conference win at 0-14, while being 7-35 on the season. Nicholls is 21-17 overall and 8-3 in conference play.
 
UP NEXT
The series finale for the Lions and the Colonels is set for noon on Saturday.