MONROE, La. -- The ULM softball team (16-6) secured the non-conference series versus Nicholls (12-10) after a 12-0 run-rule win in the rubber game on Saturday (March 2) at the ULM Softball Complex in Monroe, La. The Colonels took game one of Saturday's doubleheader, 5-4 before the Warhawks capped off the series with a resounding victory. 

Game One – Nicholls 5, ULM 4 

The Warhawks jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning after Lourdes Bacon, Carys Platt and Andie Edwards all walked to load the bases. Bacon and Platt scored off a Nicholls' throwing error to get the Warhawks on the scoreboard. With two outs, Maryssa Zenzen pulled a ball down the left field line for a two-RBI double and scored Edwards and Jacelyn Buck. Nicholls answered with three runs in the second inning and trimmed the Warhawks' lead to one. 

Victoria Abrams worked around a leadoff hit in the third and picked up her first strikeout of the day and held the Colonels scoreless. Nicholls tied the score in the top of the fourth and loaded the bases with one out. Maddie Nichols collected two big outs on a fielder's choice and a popout and kept the game tied. The Colonels were called out for leaving third base early in the fifth to end the inning as the game remained tied at the end of fifth. Nichols retired the Colonels in order in the sixth inning as the score stayed at 4-4. Buck drove a pitch to right field for a leadoff double in the sixth. ULM was called out for leaving second base early on a wild pitch and the score remained even heading to the seventh inning. 

After a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh, Nicholls moved the runner to second base on a sacrifice bunt. The Colonels took their first lead of the day after consecutive wild pitches and led 5-4. The Warhawks were sat down in order and Nicholls evened the series after the 5-4 win. 

ULM was held to three hits and left four runners on base. Bacon and Platt both racked up stolen bases and each scored a run while Edwards and Buck both crossed home plate for runs. Abrams picked up a no decision after throwing 3.1 innings and allowing two earned runs. Nichols was charged with the loss and allowed one earned run in 3.2 innings of work. 

Game Two – ULM 12, Nicholls 0 (5 inn.) 

Maddie Nichols worked around a leadoff hit and induced an inning-ending double play when Edwards fielded a grounder, stepped on second and fired to first to end the Nicholls' first. Bacon drew a walk and stole second to start the bottom of the first. Platt hustled out an infield hit and both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Edwards walked on a full count to load the bases with no outs. Meagan Brown ripped a single through the right side and scored Bacon and Platt for the first runs of the game. Buck followed by attacking the first pitch she saw and sending the ball into left field and scored Edwards.  

Brooklin Lippert perfectly placed a bunt in front of the plate and kept the line moving with a single. With one out, Kelsey Giddens smoked a two-strike pitch through the left side and plated Meagan Brown and increased ULM's lead to 4-0. The Warhawks pushed across two more runs after Buck crossed home plate on an error by Nicholls and Bacon hit a sacrifice fly to score Lippert. 

With ULM ahead 6-0, Nichols struck out a Colonel for the first out of the second and handed the ball off to Kassidy Giddens with two outs. She recorded the final out of the inning on a groundout and preserved ULM's 6-0 cushion. Zenzen tripled down the right field line with two outs and scored Edwards and Buck. After Giddens pitched a scoreless top of the third, Edwards lifted a sacrifice fly that tacked on another run for ULM. 

The first two Nicholls hitters in the top of the fourth inning reached base safely. Giddens stranded both runners with a popup, a strikeout and a flyout to keep the Colonels scoreless. Kelsey Giddens blasted her first home run of the season with Bristin Bordeau on base to make the score 11-0. ULM plated one more run after Broddick scored on a Platt infield single. Bordeau tossed a scoreless fifth to wrap a bow on the Warhawks' huge run-rule win. 

The ULM softball team will start a eight-game road trip on Tuesday (March 5) night at Grambling State. The Warhawks and Tigers will square off at 3 p.m. in Grambling.