Splitting a doubleheader with Stephen F. Austin Saturday afternoon, the Sam Houston softball team ended the regular season with a series victory over the Lumberjacks and a berth in the 2016 Southland Conference tournament next week in Lakes Charles, La.

The Bearkats rolled over the Jacks 9-2 in the first game Saturday, then dropped the nightcap 2-0 to end the regular season with a 21-31 overall record and 13-14 mark in league action. The Sam women defeated SFA 6-1 in the series opener on Saturday.

The showing in Nacogdoches completes an amazing turnaround that has seen the young Bearkat squad rebound from a 2-7 start in league play. Sam Houston rallied to win 10 of their last 16 Southland games including the five of their last six return to post-season play after missing the 2015 tournament.

Standing 7-21 for the season after a doubleheader loss to Northwestern State in Huntsville March 26, the Bearkats won 14 of their final 24 regular season contests. Sam Houston will take on the number three seeded team Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Shortstop Tiffany Castillo went 3-for-4 at the plate in the opening game. Castillo totaled three RBIs.

The Kats jumped on the Jacks quickly as Castillo picked up her first RBI with a single to left field to score Bailey Watson who singled.

Sam Houston racked up five runs in the third inning on run-scoring singles by Dani Allen and Breanna Homer, a two-run double by Codi Carpenter and a two-run single by Castillo.

Watson added another RBI single and Allen brought in two more runs with a double in the fifth inning.

Jordan Franks was the winner in the circle for the Bearkats with a complete-game performance as she gave up only three hits and struck out four Lumberjacks.

The Bearkats were shut out in the second game, picking up five hits. Stephen F. Austin scored two in the bottom of the second inning to earn the doubleheader split.