McNeill has another dominant performance as softball team sweeps Lady Demons

Nicholls softball pitcher Audrey McNeill found her groove.

After struggles in several recent outings, McNeill put on a dominant performance for the Lady Colonels in a three-game sweep against Northwestern State in Natchitoches on Sunday afternoon in the opening Southland Conference series of the season.

A case in point was Sunday’s effort. The senior won a pitchers’ duel with Lady Demons counterpart Kenzie Seely. McNeill (7-6) pitched a three-hit shutout with one walk and seven strikeouts in going the distance and leading Nicholls to a 2-0 triumph.

In the second game of a double-header on Saturday, McNeill again went the distance, yielding two hits and two walks, while striking out nine.

Neither McNeill nor Seely gave up any runs until Nicholls (3-0 in the SLC, 15-10 overall, scored a single run in each of the fifth and sixth innings.

Alexa Poche opened the top of the fifth inning with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Abby Andersen. After Gabby Higbee walked, Erin Krause advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Mckenzie Champagne, pinch-hitting for Brynne Songy, grounded out to second base, scoring Andersen with the game’s first run.

Claire Sisco led off the sixth inning with a single. After Reagan Heflin struck out, Molly VandenBout was hit by a pitch, with Ryleigh Denton replacing Seeley on the mound.

Denton hit Rylie Rutherford to load the bases. Maggie Darr immediately replaced Denton on the mound.

A sacrifice fly by Poche gave Nicholls a 2-0 lead.

McNeill gave up a one-out walk but struck out three batters in the bottom of the sixth.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, McNeill gave up a leadoff double down the right field line to Bailie Ragsdale.

McNeill got Kat Marshall to line out to third base and Aly Delafield to fly out to left before striking out Sophia Livers to end the game.

Seely (5-7) suffered the loss for Northwestern State (0-3 in the SLC, 11-15 overall). She allowed two runs on three hits and one walk, while striking out five in 5 1/3 innings.

The Lady Colonels will be back at home to face Ole Miss in a double-header beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park.