Unfortunately, the Colonels knocked off the Bearkats 4-1 in the opening game of the doubleheader, ending the Bearkats' hopes of a post-season Southland tournament berth.

"I think all year long we got off to a slow start and we were able to come back and do some things," SHSU head coach Bob Brock said. "It was unfortunate because mathematically we were still in the running for the tournament, but as soon as we lost that first game, we were eliminated. But I was really proud of them for coming back and getting a win over a good Nicholls team."

Sam Houston completes the 2010 season with the final game of the Nicholls series Sunday at 12 noon. Sunday is "Senior Day" at the Bearkat Softball Complex with seven seniors -- Mikulin, Amy Brown, Lauren Burns, Mandy Gegan, Amanda Lindsey, Ashley Nelson and Tiffani Woodrum -- to be honored.

An error by Nicholls right fielder Ashton Bennett ignited a five-run third inning for the Bearkats in game two when she dropped a fly ball off the bat of senior Lauren Burns to begin the frame. Senior catcher Ashley Nelson hit an infield single, got caught in a run down and made it safely to second, which allowed Burns to score the first run.

Senior first baseman Amy Brown hit an RBI single with two outs and right fielder Erin Burford got an infield hit to set up a two-run double by Mikulin to make it 4-0. Shelbi Tucker capped the scoring with an RBI single to left-center field.

The nail in the coffin came when Brown and Burford hit back-to-back singles to start the fifth. Mikulin crushed a pitch from Colonels starter Audrey Wood off the scoreboard in left field to end it.

The entire team mobbed Mikulin at the plate as she proved a huge spark heading into today's season finale at noon.

"The second game for sure, our level of energy in the dugout, at the plate and defensively was so much higher than the first game," Mikulin said. "To be honest, I didn't even realize that my home run was a walk-off. I was just waiting on a changeup and I hit is a long way. Tomi also did a fantastic job."

Garrison (5-4) was shaky in the first inning, issuing a couple of free passes and committing an error to load the bases with two outs. But she got her second strikeout of the frame to get out of the jam.

Garrison settled in after that and allowed only one baserunner over the next two innings. Nicholls (16-13, 25-19) threatened again in the fourth when Lyndsay Mesh doubled and Mandy Granger singled with one out. Garrison got a strikeout and made a play on a grounder to the circle to keep the Colonels off the board.

"It was really good because the team did a great job supporting me out there," Garrison said. "Our defense was good, our hitting was good and everything just came together."

The run-rule win was a great way to finish a day which started with a heartbreaking loss.

To even have a shot at making the Southland Conference tournament, the Bearkats needed to sweep Nicholls this weekend. A couple of tough breaks dashed any hopes SHSU had at making the postseason in the first game.

Sam Houston loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning and Tucker launched a shot to left field that looked like it was going to clear the bases and put the Kats up 4-1. Nicholls left fielder Laine Strickland reached up at the fence and robbed Tucker of a grand slam.

"It was a surprise. I was on base and I was running like Shelbi had hit a grand slam," Mikulin said. "But it was a great catch."

The Colonels scored three runs off Mikulin (14-19) in the top of the third thanks to a three-run double by Wood to go up 4-0.

Sam Houston did manage to score a run in the inning when left fielder Tori Benavidez has hit by a pitch, but Nicholls starter Lacey Gros (13-7) closed the door by getting Tiffani Woodrum to ground into a fielder's choice.

The double header split gives Nicholls a 24-18 regular season record and puts the Colonels tied for fourth place with McNeese State in the Southland standings with a 16-13 record.

Sam Houston, now 20-28 for the year, drops into tenth place with a 12-16 league mark.

Tickets for Sam Houston State softball home games are on sale online at www.gobearkats.com. All Sam Houston students, faculty and staff receive free admission with their SHSU BearkatOne I.D. cards. For $2, students and faculty/staff can upgrade their seats with  reserved chairback seat. Offer is available at the ticket booth the day of the game.

For more information on exciting ticket offers go to the links below or contact the Sam Houston State ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.

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