The Nicholls State University softball team collected 37 hits, winning their second Southland Conference series in a row last weekend at the University of the Incarnate Word.

The Colonels had double-digit hits in all 3 games, adding to their conference leading mark of 358 on the season, which includes a conference leading 14 triples. Head Coach Angel Santiago predicates his offensive approach on having a high on-base percentage and getting runs batted in. This year’s team ranks second in the conference in both categories.

“We’re getting runners on, advancing them and scoring pretty consistent,” Santiago said. “It’s exciting to see us work together and string together a bunt, steal a base and get a two out RBI.”

Sophomore pitcher Jackie Johnson earned her first win of the weekend Saturday, allowing four runs on six hits over six innings as the Colonels beat the Cardinals 5-4.

“Getting Jackie back on the mound has helped us out tremendously,” Santiago said. “Injuries can affect an athlete negatively, but she really just needed rest.”

Neither team scored until the fourth inning when sophomore outfielder Jessica Taylor singled in freshman Payton Gremillion. The Cardinals answered with two runs of their own, taking a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning. With the bases loaded, junior Danielle Phillips tied the game with a single, scoring Taylor. The Colonels took the lead with two outs in the inning when junior Kristen Ahearn doubled to left field, scoring junior Haley Parkenson and Phillips.

Phillips and Taylor led the team with three hits a peace.

Despite collecting 11 hits, the Colonels dropped the second game of the Saturday double header, falling 4-5. Junior Hannah Haydel dropped her record to 12-7 on the year, surrendering 5 runs on 10 hits over 6 innings.

After an unearned run in the first inning gave the Colonels a one-run lead, the Cardinals answered with a with a three-run homer in their half of the inning. Freshman Kimmie Rodriguez had a retort of her own, leading off the second inning with a homerun to leftfield.

“When we get the wheels moving offensively, we are hard to beat,” Santiago said. “We did the best we could in the second game but came up one run short.”

The Colonels continued to punish Cardinal pitching, collecting 14 hits in the 8-1 Victory. Ahearn opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning with a solo homerun, and runs followed in every inning on. Sophomore Brooke Morris and junior Kayla Prater joined Gremillion, Parkenson and Taylor in collecting two hits in the last game.

Johnson returned to start in the circle for the Colonels Sunday, improving her record to an even 7-7 on the season with a complete game performance, including allowing one run on four hits.

The Colonels are fighting for the sixth and final slot on the Southland Conference Tournament with three series left. They will travel to Natchitoches this weekend to take on league leaders Northwestern State University. The Lady Demons have 55 homeruns on the year.

“We’re going to keep the ball down in the hitting zone and battle like we have all season,” Santiago said.