THIBODAUX, La. – Senior Audrey McNeill struck out eight batters in seven shutout innings and Riley Rutherford belted a home run in the sixth for the game’s only runs as the Nicholls State University softball team won its series opener against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 2-0, Friday night at Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park.
McNeill (13-12) and AMCC’s Primrose Aholelei went pitch-for-pitch in the circle as neither allowed a hit until the fourth inning. But in the sixth, Reagan Heflin led off with a single for the Colonels to set up Rutherford’s game-winning two-run homer. After holding the Islanders to a lone infield single through six, McNeill gave up a pair of two-out base hits in the seventh before ending the game with his eighth strikeout to signal the win.
McNeill was outstanding in the victory for Nicholls (27-24, 14-8 SLC), walking just one batter in addition to finishing one strikeout shy of his season high. The hit she allowed in the fourth was on a check swing by Paolina Baez, with the ball rolling just slow enough towards third for a single.
At the bottom of the fourth, Erin Krause tallied the first hit off of Aholelei with a two-out single through the left side. Alexa Poche’ followed with a rocket down the first base line but he was caught to end the inning. Krause was also stellar in the field, finishing with five assists.
Nicholls threatened again in the fifth thanks to an error and two hit-by-pitches that loaded the bases. Claire Sisco got a good swing on the first pitch but it stayed inside the ballpark in deep center for the third out.
In the sixth, Heflin’s single landed in right field and she moved over on a Poche’ groundout. Rutherford left no double when she blasted the first pitch over the center field wall for a 2-0 advantage. Over his last three games, Rutherford has tallied six hits in nine at-bats.
AMCC’s final hits were courtesy of Monee Montilla and Sidney Campion.
Aholelei struck out four in 6.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits.
ON DECK
Nicholls will wrap up the regular season on Saturday with a noon doubleheader. Following the game, the Colonels will recognize their six-member senior class.
