BEAUMONT, Texas -- The Lamar Lady Cardinals are down to two chances to secure a bid to next week's Southland Conference Softball Tournament after dropping a 5-2 decision to visiting Nicholls on Friday evening.

The Lady Cardinals (22-26 overall, 12-10 Southland) need to get at least a split in Saturday's season-ending doubleheader against Nicholls at the Lamar Softball Complex to qualify for the postseason.

"We're making it hard on ourselves," Lamar coach Holly Bruder said. "We're playing like we are hoping to win rather than like we are going to win."

The Lady Cardinals had just four hits on the game, none after the third inning, as Nicholls' Hannah Haydel (13-10) retired the last 13 Lamar batters of the game.

"We're not being aggressive enough," Bruder said. "We're looking for walks instead of hits. You're not going to win that way."

Sable Hankins had two hits and two RBIs for Lamar, driving in Sarah Ragsdale in the first and third innings. Stephanie Meeuwsen and Marissa LeJune had the other hits for Lamar.

Payton Gremillion and Alexis Huss each had two hits and two RBIs for Nicholls (26-20, 12-10) as the Colonels stayed in the hunt for a tournament berth. Haley Parkerson had two hits and scored two runs for Nicholls.

Lamar starter Laura Napoli (16-16) took the loss, allowing eight hits and five runs, three earned. Napoli wasn't helped by a Lamar defense that committed three errors.

"Right now, we're not doing the things that we need to do to win," Bruder said. "We have to come out on Saturday and play as aggressive as we can."

Saturday's doubleheader starts at 3 p.m. Pregame ceremonies will honor the Lady Cardinals' two seniors, Casey Cromwell and Shannon Sain. All fans will receive a free keychain flashlight. In addition, Saturday is Dollar Dog Day, with $1 hot dogs on sale at the concession stand throughout the day.

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