THIBODAUX, LA ? Sam Houston State swept a Southland Conference softball doubleheader from Nicholls State with 4-2 and 8-2 victories over Nicholls State Saturday afternoon.

The two victories put the Bearkats back in the picture in the battle for a Southland Conference post-season playoff berth, tying the Colonels for sixth place. Both now own 14-12 league records. Sam Houston stands 25-22 for the season while Nicholls State is 30-21.

Calli Wood and Hailey Wiginton each hit home runs to lead Sam Houston State to in the first game.

The Bearkats broke open a scoreless tie in the fourth inning as Amy Brown walked. Wood smashed a solo home run to put Sam Houston up 2-0 in the top of the fifth.

Lacey Marsh's RBI double accounted a Colonel run in the  bottom of the fifth.

The Bearkats added a pair of insurance runs as Alex Survant singled and Wiginton homered.

Brandi Crnkovic (10-11) was the winning pitching, giving up four hits and four walks while striking out four Colonels in five and two-thirds innings. Morgan Mikulin picked up her fourth save of the season, pitching the final inning and a third.

In the second game, Sam Houston State drew first blood, scoring a run in the second and the third to take the 2-0 lead. The score remained that way until the Bearkats put a six-spot on the scoreboard in the top half of the fifth inning to go up 8-0. The Colonels scored three in the bottom half to cut into the lead, 8-3.

Wood, Whitney Wilson, Casie Everitt and Sarah Parich each had two hits for Sam Houston. Mikulin (11-8) was the winning pitcher, spreading six hits over seven innings.

Sam Houston and Nicholls State will play the third and final game of the series beginning Sunday at 12 noon.