THIBODAUX — An eight run fourth inning erased a 6-2 deficit as the LSU softball team came from behind to defeat Nicholls State, 10-6, on Wednesday night at the Lady Colonel Diamond.
With the win, the Tigers improved to 23-15 on the season, while the Lady Colonels dropped to 13-28. LSU completed the two-game series sweep of Nicholls State after having defeated the Lady Colonels, 6-2, in Baton Rouge earlier this season.
After taking the 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Nicholls State took the lead and jumped out to a 6-2 lead after three innings. LSU rallied back with eight runs in the top of the fourth inning to retake the lead for good.
“This team showed tremendous fight tonight,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “I am extremely proud of their courage and heart. We got to rest a couple of people for this weekend like we had intended and it all worked out well for us.”
Leslie Klein went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored for the Tigers, while Lauren Castle went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Lauren Delahoussaye went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored and Vanessa Soto went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
“It was good to see some of our bats come alive with Lauren Delahoussaye and Leslie Klein hitting the ball well tonight,” said Girouard. “Camille Harris was steady as usual.”
Megan Jolly earned the win in relief to improve to 5-4 on the season. She allowed one run on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts in six inning of work. Tiffany Garcia started the game and allowed five runs on three hits with two walks in an inning.
“Megan Jolly looked like the old Megan Jolly tonight,” said Girouard. “She came out and kept Nicholls in check and allowed us to come back and win the game.”
Harris was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the first inning. She then stole second. With one out, she scored on a single up the middle by Stephanie Hill to give the Tigers the 1-0 lead.
Nicholls State came back to take the lead with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Kathryn Harrell singled up the middle to start the inning. She moved to second on a wild pitch before Andrea Ground drew a walk to put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt moved the pair to second and third.
On a fielder’s choice to shortstop by Lindsay Coleman, the play failed to get Harrell at the plate, tying the game for the Lady Colonels. Brandi Hahn then reached on a throwing error by Andrea Smith from shortstop, loading the bases. Back-to-back singles scored Ground and Coleman before a fielder’s choice scored Hahn with Nicholls leading 4-1.
In the bottom of the second, the Lady Colonels added two more. Harrell walked to lead off the inning. After Jolly came in to replace Garcia in the circle, Ground reached on a bunt single. With runners on first and second, a single to left field by Yelverton scored Harrell as Ground was thrown out trying to take third and Yelverton advanced to second on the throw. A single up the middle by Coleman scored Yelverton from second as Coleman was thrown out trying to advance to second.
LSU got a run back in the top of the third inning. With one out, Soto singled to left field. With Dee Dee Henderson running for Soto, she moved to second on a single through the left side by Klein. A single through the right side by Delahoussaye scored Henderson from second and cut the lead to 6-2.
In the top of the fourth, the Tigers exploded for eight runs to retake the lead. Smith led off with a single to center field. With one out and Lauren Uhle pinch running for Smith, she stole second. Harris was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game to put runners at first and second. A double to right center by Castle scored Uhle and Harris. Soto then doubled down the right field line to score Castle and cut the Nicholls lead to one.
A walk to Hill and a single up the middle by Klein loaded the bases. A single to left field by Delahoussaye scored Soto to tie the game. Quinlan Duhon then drew a walk to push across the go ahead run. With two outs, Killian Roessner singled through the left side to score Klein. On a wild pitch, Delahoussaye scored from third before a wild throw from the catcher allowed Duhon to score to run the score to 10-6.
Nichole Wagner started and took the loss for Nicholls to fall to 7-13 on the season. She allowed nine runs on 10 hits with two walks and two strikeouts in three and a third innings. Jessica Barksdale closed out the game for the Lady Colonels, allowed one unearned run on two hits with three walks and a strikeout in three and two-thirds innings.
LSU returns to Southeastern Conference play this weekend as the Tigers host Ole Miss. The pair will face off in a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. before closing out the series with a single game on Sunday beginning at noon. All three games will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Network with the first game of the series being televised on Cox Sports Television on same day tape delay at 5 p.m.
LSU 101 800 0 – 10 12 2
Nicholls State 420 000 x – 6 10 1
Garcia, Jolly (2) and Roessner. Wagner, Barksdale (4) and Sick. WP – Jolly (5-4). LP – Wagner (7-13). T – 2:20. A – 622.