Nicholls softball team sweeps double-header from Lady Demons to open Southland play

Alexa Poche belted a three-run home run in the fifth inning to help power Nicholls past Northwestern State 5-0 in the second game and a double-header sweep Saturday in Natchitoches to open Southland Conference softball action.

The Lady Colonels took the series opener 9-5.

Nicholls (14-10 overall, 2-0 in the SLC) scored a run in each of the second and third innings before Poche came up with her big blow in the top of the fifth.

Rylie Rutherford and Poche each singled to open the second inning. With one out, Erin Krause reached base on a fielding error by Lady Demons third baseman Tristin Court, with Rutherford scoring the game’s first run.

Rutherford made it 2-0 in the third inning on a run-scoring double to right center field.

Claire Sisco opened the fifth inning with a single. With one out, Molly VandenBout came up with a base hit to put two runners aboard before Poche blasted her home run to left center field.

Audrey McNeill (6-6) went the distance for Nicholls, yielding two hits and two walks, while striking out nine.

Nicholls 9, Northwestern State 5: The Lady Colonels were clinging to a 5-4 lead before producing four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the opening game of the double-header.

With runners on the corners and one out in the seventh inning, Reagan Heflin reached on a fielder’s choice, allowing Krause to score. VandenBout hit into a run-scoring ground out before Rutherford homered to left to give Nicholls a 9-4 lead.

A run-scoring single by Rutherford in the top of the first inning gave Nicholls an early 1-0 lead before Northwestern State countered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.

A one-out walk by Laney Roos and a double by Court put two runners aboard, setting up a two-run double by Cameron Curtis.

Nicholls regained the lead with three runs in the third inning. The first two runs came on a two-run double by Heflin. The final run of the inning scored when Poche reached base on a fielding error by Lady Demons second baseman Taylor Williams.

A two-run double down the left field line by Court scored two runs and to pull Northwestern State to within one run entering the seventh inning.

Molly Yoo (4-3) got the win, allowing five runs on 11 hits and three walks, with three strikeouts in six innings.

After Yoo surrendered a run in the bottom of the seventh, Averi Paden got the final three outs of the game to pick up her first save of the season.

Northwestern State fell to 11-14 overall and 0-2 in the SLC.

The teams close out the series with a single game at noon Sunday.