MONROE, La. -- Maddie Nichols and Kassidy Giddens both pitched complete games and led the ULM softball team (11-5) to wins over Syracuse (8-5) and Evansville (0-11) at the Best on the Bayou Tournament on Saturday (Feb. 24).

Nichols struck out seven batters in the Warhawks' 4-1 win over 'Cuse while Giddens fanned two batters in ULM's 6-1 win versus the Aces.

Game One - ULM 4, Syracuse 1
The Orange placed runners at first and second base with one out in the top of the second inning when Nichols recorded a pair of strikeouts to end the inning. Elle Carter sliced a ball down the left field line for an RBI triple that scored Kelsey Giddens to get the Warhawks on the scoreboard. Carter added a run after Syracuse committed a throwing error later in the inning.

Jacelyn Buck turned an unassisted double play at third base and the Warhawks escaped damage in the third inning with Syracuse threatening with runners in scoring position. ULM padded its lead with two runs in the bottom of the third after Buck laid down an RBI sacrifice bunt that scored Meagan Brown and Carys Platt.

Nichols continued to fool batters in the middle frames and struck out the side in the fourth inning. She worked around two hits in the fifth and held SU scoreless once again before striking out her seventh batter in the sixth inning. The Orange scored one run in the seventh inning with two outs, but Nichols forced a fly out and earned her fourth win of the season with a complete game.

Game Two - ULM 6, Evansville 1
After Giddens sat the Aces down in order, the Warhawks struck first with three runs. Lourdes Bacon started the inning with a walk and Brooklin Lippert followed with a bunt base hit. Meagan Brown walked to load the bases. Bacon scored on an RBI groundout by Maryssa Zenzen on the next play. Following a walk by Andie Edwards, Platt dropped a bunt in between the pitcher and the catcher to score Lippert and make the score, 2-0. Buck smoked an RBI single to third and completed the three-run inning for ULM.

The Warhawks increased their lead after Evansville scored one run in the top of the second and responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Zenzen singled up the middle and scored Bacon for the second time. Meagan Brown scored ULM's fifth run of the night thanks to an Evansville throwing error. Giddens quieted the Aces bats and completed four consecutive shutout innings to keep ULM ahead 5-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth. ULM plated an insurance run in the sixth when Zenzen scored on a double play. Giddens retired Evansville in order during the last half inning of play and gave the Warhawks their second win of the day.

The ULM softball team will finish The Best on the Bayou Tournament tomorrow (Feb. 25) with a doubleheader versus Evansville (11:30 a.m.) and Sam Houston (2 p.m.).