Nicholls seniors close out careers with series home sweep of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

It seemed appropriate that someone like Alexa Poche drove in the only run in Nicholls’ 1-0 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday afternoon to take the second game of a Southland Conference double-header at Swanner Field.

The first baseman was one of six players honored on Senior Day on the final day of the regular season.

The game’s only run came early, with Nicholls scoring in the bottom of the first inning.

“I was just trying not to do too much, and it worked out,” Poche said. “Thankfully, we were able to hold the lead. It’s bittersweet getting the last run on the home field.

“Sometimes games are like that. You just gotta be scrappy and take what you can get and hold on to what you have.”

It was a sophomore who helped the seniors go out on top.

Center fielder Reagan Heflin produced a single to right field with one out and advanced to second base on a ground out by Erin Krause. Poche’s base hit up the middle, scored Heflin with the game’s only run.

“We just wanted the seniors to go out with a bang as a team, so I just knew I needed to get my job done and get a base hit so that other people can come in and score me. That Alexa getting the RBI for her Senior Day was good for her. I’m so proud of her,” Heflin said.

“I thought we were gonna score more at that point, but looking back, it was a pretty big run, with two outs, too. Fortunately, Audrey (McNeill) was out there shoving for us and we were able to make it work.”

For the second time in three games in the series, McNeill allowed only three hits. She allowed only one hit through the first six innings before giving up two in the seventh in Nicholls’ 2-0 win Friday night.

“I felt good going on today and I felt like I was still dicing up a little bit. I felt like I had good stuff and I felt confident in what I was doing,” said McNeill.

McNeill (14-12), along with allowing only three hits, walked just two batters, and allowed only one Islander to reach base to open an inning. That came in the fifth when she issued one of her two walks.

“Getting the first out of the inning definitely helps to just take a lot of stress off of everybody because then it’s like, ‘OK, well, even if somebody gets on, then you know there’s still two outs to play with and we have a lot of room to get out of that inning.’” Heflin said.

McNeill’s effort came after Molly Yoo and Averi Paden combined to allow one run on five hits and only one walk in a 7-1 victory in the opening game of Saturday’s double-header.

“Audrey was obviously fantastic both games and Molly and Averi threw really well. The pitching has been just key for us all year and they were obviously the key this weekend. I was a little disappointed in the bats this last game, but it’s really hot and have been out here. It’s been a long day. Sometimes you’ve got to win some ugly ones. We’ll take ’em,” Lewis said.

Winning the double-header allowed Nicholls to sweep all three games in the series.

The results moved Nicholls to 16-8 in the Southland and 29-24 overall. Corpus Christi fell to 9-15 in the conference and 21-21 overall.

Nicholls likely will garner the No. 4 seed going into the SLC tournament which begins Tuesday in Hammond.

Along with Poche and McNeill, other seniors who played their final games in a Nicholls uniform on Sunday included outfielders Mckenzie Champagne and Abby Andersen, and infielders Samantha Gwiazda and Syndee Shelton.

“They’ve put a lot into this program and so to send them out on their day is big,” Lewis said.

Nicholls 7, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 1: The Lady Colonels broke open a 3-1 game with four runs in the seventh inning to take the opener of the double-header.

Nicholls took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Gabby Higbee produced a one-out double to left center field, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a bunt single by Carmella Muccilli.

The Islanders threatened in the top of the fifth inning.

After two outs to open the inning, Mimi Thornton, and pinch-hitter Felixia Honojosa produced back-to-back singles. Another pinch-hitter, Taniece Tyson, lined out to third base to end the threat.

Nicholls extended its lead with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth.

Muccilli led off the inning with a single and stole second base. With one out, a base hit by Andersen put runners on the corners. After Andersen stole second, Heflin delivered a single. A fielder error by Islanders center fielder Isabella Hune allowed Heflin to advance to second as two runs scored to extend the Nicholls lead to 3-0.

Corpus Christi got one of the runs back in the top of the sixth inning

Hune hit a single back to the pitcher. After Sydney Hoyt grounded out, Monee Montilla doubled to drive in the Islanders’ first run of the series.

Paden entered the game in place of Yoo. Paden got Paolina Baez to line out and Kimane Rogron to ground out to end the innings.

Nicholls blew the game open with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on run-scoring base hit by Higbee, a two-run single by Andersen, and a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Krause.

Yoo (7-8) picked up the win. She allowed one run on five hits and one walk, while striking out five in 5 1/3 innings.

Paden picked up her second save of the season.

Ariella Saenz (2-6) took the loss. She allowed seven runs, six of which were earned, on nine hits, while striking out two in 5 1/3 innings.