NATCHITOCHES, La. -  Northwestern State swept a Southland Conference softball doubleheader from Sam Houston State Sunday afternoon, winning 10-7 and 1-0.

The two victories gave NSU a series victory. Sam Houston won the first game of the weekend Saturday11-2. The Bearkats now stand 11-17 for the season and 4-8 in Southland Conference play.

In the first game, Northwestern State exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the second inning to power their way to a 10-7 softball. NSU only totaled three hits during the eight-run second, taking advantage of three Bearkat errors.

Sam Houston opened the game with an early run as shortstop Hailey Wiginton led off with a double and scored on a single by right fielder Erin Burford.

Down 8-1, the Kats fought back to two runs in the third inning, another in the fifth and three in the top of the seventh inning.

First baseman Amy Brown sparked the scoring in the third inning with a two-run double. Burford produced a solo home run in the fifth. Morgan Mikulin had an RBI single to start the three-run rally in the seventh.

A lone run in the double of the second inning of the nightcap proved to be decisive for NSU in the nightcap. Third baseman Ashleigh Kuhn singled, reached second on a passed ball and moved to third on a single. She scored on a sacrifice fly by center fielder Ashlee England.

Twice Sam Houston had runners on third base but couldn't bring them in. Wiginton walked, was sacrificed to second and reached third on a passed ball in the third inning. But the next two batters fouled out and popped up.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, left fielder Amanda Lindsey blasted a triple. But the final Bearkat batter popped up to end the game.

Mikulin (7-12) was the losing pitcher for Sam Houston in both games. In the nightcap, she allowed only four hits and struck out five batters.

Sam Houston will host a non-conference doubleheader against Baylor at 4 p.m.at the Bearkat Softball Complex Tuesday.

Tickets for Sam Houston State softball home games are on sale online at www.gobearkats.com. The Sam Houston State athletic ticket office in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ticket office telephone number is 936 294-1729.

Fans also can order exciting Sam Houston State gear at Bearkat Gear link on www.gobearkats.com.