THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University softball team matched its season low of two hits as the Colonels dropped 5-2 decision against South Alabama on Tuesday evening at Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park. 

One of the hits came in the first inning as Alexa Poche' drilled a double to right field to give Nicholls an early 2-1 advantage. But the South Alabama pitching staff would toss a shutout the rest of the way while the offense churned out a season-high 12 hits for the victory.
 

Nicholls dipped to 17-11 with the loss while South Alabama improved to 20-9. The teams will meet again on April 11 in Mobile.

Audrey McNeill took the loss, throwing 4.2 innings with five earned runs on nine hits. She struck out four and walked none. Molly Yoo was solid in relief, tossing 2.1 shutout innings while allowing three hits. 

Abby Andersen accounted for the other Colonel hit, lacing a single to start the third inning. But a towering fly to left by Melise Gossen stayed in the park for the final out and kept the score at 2-2.

USA broke the tie in the fifth with three runs. Victoria Ortiz drove in a pair on a base hit before Odayls Cordova chased McNeill out of the game with another run-scoring single. In the bottom half, an error and a walk put two Colonels on before a strikeout ended the threat. The final out in the fifth was the first of seven straight Colonels retired by Jenna Hardy, who pitched three innings for the save.

Cordova had a 4-for-4 day for the Jaguars and Meredith Keel added three hits. Ortiz led USA with three RBIs. 

ON DECK
Nicholls will host Northwestern State this weekend for a three-game series, starting with a Friday (March 24) doubleheader at 4 p.m.