Box Score

THIBODAUX, La. – Houston Baptist dropped the rubber game against Nicholls State, 3-1, Friday afternoon from Colonel Softball Complex.

HBU (13-13, 6-6 SLC) was held to just four hits, as Kirsten Schwirtlich, Melissa Herman, Shay Orsak, and Mac Christensen each had a hit. Orsak had the lone RBI. Lauren Schwirtlich went 0-for-3 at the plate, ending her 14-game hitting streak.

Lori Earl (2-2) took the loss, allowing six hits, three runs, and two walks while striking out three in 4.1 innings. Sarah Shotton relieved Earl and allowed one hit while whiffing one in 1.2 innings.

Ashley Bertot and Leah Andrus each had two-hit games for Nicholls State (15-18, 6-6 SLC). Bertot had two runs scored.

Ashton Bennett (9-9) earned the win in the circle, allowing three hits, one run, and one walk while striking out one in 5.0 innings. Hannah Haydel got the save in two innings of relief, allowing one hit while striking out one.

Nicholls State drew first blood in the bottom of the first. Bertot led off the inning with a walk, then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. She scored on a sac fly by Haley Parkerson.

The Colonels increased their lead with another run in the bottom of the second, as Bertot hit an RBI single.

HBU cut the deficit in half, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth. Herman hit a one-out single, then advanced to second after Victoria Granchelli was hit by a pitch. Herman rounded third and crossed home on an RBI single by Orsak. The Huskies had a chance to tie the game, with Granchelli at third with just one out, but the Colonels got a pop-up and a strikeout to end the threat.

Nicholls State had its two-run lead back, as Andrus' RBI single gave the Colonels a 3-1 lead heading into the top of the sixth.

The Huskies had base runners in both the top of the sixth and seventh, but couldn't get any runs across, as the Colonels took the game, 3-1, and the series, two games to one.

HBU will step out of conference play for a single game at Texas State on Tuesday, April 2 at 6 pm.