THIBODAUX—Nicholls used a fifth inning two-run homerun by sophomore Kasey Frederick to pick up a 4-3 Southland Conference win over McNeese here Friday to remain undefeated at home (11-0) in the opening game of a three game conference series. The series will conclude with a 12 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.
 
McNeese (28-14, 14-2) still holds a one game lead over the second place Colonels (27-13, 13-3 SLC).
 
Nicholls opened the game by taking a 2-0 lead on three hits in the first inning. A two out double by Veronica Villafranco scored the first run of the game before a dingle to second base by Sydney Bourg scored the second run of the inning for the Colonels.
 
Justyce McClain led the game off with a single but the Cowgirls didn't get another hit until the fourth when Erika Piancastelli led the fourth inning off with a single to left center. After Piancastelli stole second with one out, she was stranded after Tori Yanitor popped out and Baylee Corbello grounded out to short.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Cowgirl pitcher Rachel Smith got the first two Nicholls batters out before walking the next two. Then gave up a single to load the bases. Smith got out of a bases loaded jam by getting Samantha Mracich to ground out to Piancastelli at third.
 
The Cowgirls took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when Carleigh Chaumont led the inning off with a single then advanced to third on a double by Taylor Schmidt. A sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Alexandria Saldivar allowed Chaumont to score to cut the lead to 2-1. Schmidt also advanced a base on the play then was replace by pinch runner Lauren Brown. McClain picked up a single then reached second on the play. Hailey Drew's sacrifice fly to centerfield tied the game, bringing Brown home from third to score. Piancastelli then gave McNeese a 3-2 lead with a double to right, scoring McClain from second.
 
McNeese didn't hold the lead for long as the Colonels scored two more runs in the bottom of the inning via Frederick's two-run homer over the left field fence to regain the lead. The long ball is Frederick's fourth of the season.
 
The Cowgirls managed to get only one runner on base, a walk to Chaumont in the sixth in the final two inning of the game. McNeese ended the game with six hits and left five runners stranded.
 
Smith (11-6) suffered her first conference loss of the season (7-1) after allowing four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. She also walked three and struck out one. Alexsandra Flores came in to relieve Smith for 2/3 innings, allowing one hit in three batters she faced.
 
McClain and Piancastelli picked up two hits apiece while Chaumont and Saldivar each had one.
The Colonels ended the game with eight hits and were led by Brooklyn Devine who had two. Six other Colonels had one hit each.
 
Jackie Johnson picked up her 14^th win of the season to improve to 14-7 overall while Megan Landry picked up her fourth save of the year. Johnson allowed three runs on six hits, struck out seven and walked in five innings. Landry struck out one and walked one in two innings.