The Nicholls State University softball team opened Southland Conference road play in strong fashion Friday, rallying for a 4–3 extra-inning win before completing the doubleheader sweep with a 6–2 victory over UIW at H-E-B Field.
Nicholls improved to 15–11 overall and 4–1 in SLC play, while UIW fell to 18–10 overall and 3–2 in conference action. The two teams will wrap up the series Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.
Game 1 – Nicholls 4, UIW 3 (8 innings)
Nicholls needed extra innings to take the opener, pushing across the go-ahead run in the eighth to secure a 4–3 victory.
UIW struck first in the bottom of the first when Sydney Zenon launched a two-run home run off Averi Paden to give the Cardinals a 2–0 lead.
The Colonels broke through in the fourth inning. Brynne Songy recorded Nicholls’ first hit of the game with a single before Reagan Heflin drew a walk. Kayleigh Lugowski then delivered the big swing, blasting a three-run home run to center field to give Nicholls a 3–2 advantage. The homer was Lugowski’s first of the season.
Ashley Little entered the circle in the second inning and was dominant, striking out seven batters across five innings of work. However, UIW tied the game in the seventh when Madison Dorrow delivered a pinch-hit solo home run.
The Cardinals threatened for more with the bases loaded and no outs, but Sierra Ouellette entered in relief and escaped the jam. She induced a fielder’s choice at the plate, forced a shallow flyout, and ended the inning with a swinging strikeout to send the game into extras.
Nicholls responded in the eighth as Erin Krause and Reagan Heflin singled before Lugowski worked a walk to load the bases. Gabby Higbee hit a ground ball up the middle and beat the throw to first on a potential double play, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
Molly Yoo closed the door in the bottom half, stranding the tying run at third after retiring the final three batters.
Nicholls finished with seven hits, led by Heflin and Laylin Sturm with two each.
Game 2 – Nicholls 6, UIW 2
The Colonels carried the momentum into the nightcap, building an early lead and riding a complete game from Molly Yoo to secure a 6–2 win and the doubleheader sweep.
Nicholls opened the scoring in the first inning when Claire Sisco and Madison Moak each singled, setting up a sacrifice fly from Reagan Heflin to make it 1–0.
The Colonels extended the lead in the second inning with a two-out rally. Sisco doubled and Moak walked before Erin Krause delivered a two-run double to push the advantage to 3–0.
UIW answered in the bottom of the inning as Sydney Zenon drove in two runs with a two-out single to cut the deficit to 3–2.
Nicholls added insurance in the fourth when Moak brought home a run with a groundout. The Colonels then sealed the game in the seventh. Krause singled and later scored on another Heflin sacrifice fly before Lugowski capped the day with a towering solo home run off the scoreboard—her second homer of the doubleheader.
Yoo finished the nightcap with a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out two. After earning the save in Game 1, Yoo threw all seven innings in Game 2 to secure the win.
Sisco led the offense with a 3-for-4 performance and three runs scored, while Krause added two hits. Krause and Heflin each drove in two runs to lead the Colonels at the plate.
