Nicholls softball team drops double-header at UIW after walk-off loss in nightcap

The Nicholls softball team let another late-inning lead slip away and so too the chances of winning its road series at Incarnate Word in San Antonio on Friday.

Nicholls was leading 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh and UIW had two runners on base with one out.

Victoria Altamirano, who hit a grand slam for her 11th home run of the season in the Cardinals’ 11-3 win in the opening game of the double-header, stepped to the plate.

Nicholls pitcher Molly Yoo walked Altamirano on four pitches to load the bases. Avalon Sanchez followed with a double down the right field line, driving in two runs to give UIW a 4-3 walk-off win and a double-header sweep.

The wins for UIW gave the Cardinals sole possession of third place in the Southland Conference.

Both teams went into the game 12-6 in the conference. UIW improved to 14-6 in the league while Nicholls dropped to 12-8. Even with a win by Nicholls in the series finale slated for noon Saturday, the Lady Colonels would still leave San Antonio trailing Incarnate Word in the standings.

Leading 2-0, Nicholls added what seemed like a key insurance run in the top of the sixth inning.

Erin Krause opened the inning with a single. After Alexa Poche flied out, a single by Abby Andersen put two runners on base.

Rylie Rutherford followed with a single to center, scoring Krause to put Nicholls on top 3-0.

UIW responded in the bottom half of the inning.

Altamirano walked to open the inning and Sanchez followed with a double to put two runners in scoring position. A single to center by Jillan Guiterrez scored Altamirano to make it 3-1.

After a pop out by Aaliyah Garcia, Maddison Guillen hit a grounder to second base. Nicholls second baseman Claire Sisco touched the bag and tossed to first base. Guillen beat the throw and Sanchez scored on the play.

Dariane Cram hit the ball to Yoo, who tossed to first base for the final out of the inning and enabling Nicholls to cling to a 3-2 lead.

After Nicholls made three quick outs in the top of the seventh, the Cardinals rallied.

Nicholls broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the fifth inning when Molly VandenBout reached base on a run-scoring fielder’s choice, and a run-scoring ground out by Mckenzie Champagne.

Yoo (6-8) suffered the loss. She allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks, while striking out one in 6 1/3 innings.

Maddy Blake (4-0) got the win. Blake never allowed a Nicholls batter to reach base in pitching the final 1 2/3 innings for UIW.

Incarnate Word 11, Nicholls 3: The Cardinals used big innings, including a six-run third that included a grand slam by Altamirano on their way to the win in the opening game of the double-header.

The six-run outburst came after Nicholls had scored two runs in the top half of the inning to rally to within 4-3.

In the bottom half of the inning, a walk issued to Guillen by Nicholls starter Aubrey McNeill, a single by Cram, and an error that allowed Ryleigh Mata to reach base safely, loaded the bases to open the inning.

A single by Baylee Lemons produced the first run of the inning. Guiterrez hit a grounder up the middle. Nicholls shortstop Sam Gwiazda elected to throw home to try and nail Cram at the plate. The throw was high as the Cardinals extended their lead to 6-3.

Averi Paden entered the game in relief of McNeill. Alamirano greeted Paden by blasting a home run to left field, her 11th of the season, with the grand slam, giving UIW a 10-3 advantage.

The Cardinals ended the game via run-rule on a sacrifice fly by Garcia in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Nicholls opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning.

A one-out single by Reagan Heflin and a double down the left field line put runners on third and second with two outs. Abby Andersen beat a throw to first base on an infield hit, allowing Heflin to score to give Nicholls a quick 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals answered with four runs in the bottom of the first a sacrifice fly by Sanchez, along with run-scoring singles by Guillen, Cram, and Mata.

Nicholls made it 4-3 on a two-run home run in the top of the third inning by Poche.

McNeill (11-2) suffered the loss. She allowed nine runs, only three of which were earned, on eight hits and two walks, while striking out in two innings.

Larissa Jacquez (10-5) got the win. She allowed three runs on nine hits, while striking out four in five innings.