THIBODAUX, La. – The Lamar University Cardinals are going to need some help if they hope to get into next week's Southland Conference Softball Tournament.
 
The Cardinals suffered a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the host Nicholls Colonels by scores of 9-1 and 6-4 on Friday, with one bad inning costing LU in both contests. The Cardinals (28-27 overall, 11-15 Southland) can still get into the tournament, but now they need the assistance of the Houston Baptist Huskies.
 
The Cardinals qualify for the tournament if they can win Saturday's game against Nicholls and HBU wins one game in its three-game series at Sam Houston State. If the Cardinals fall to Nicholls, HBU would have to win at least two games at Sam Houston State to put the Cardinals into the tournament. The HBU at Sam Houston series was delayed a day because of rain. The Huskies and Bearkats play a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday.
 
Nicholls (37-13, 20-6) clinched the top seed in the tournament. The Colonels have earned at least a share of the Southland Conference regular-season title, and can clinch the title outright with a win over LU on Saturday or if Stephen F. Austin loses once in its three-game series with visiting Abilene Christian.
   
The Cardinals couldn't overcome five errors, allowing seven unearned runs in the opener.
 
Nicholls struck for two runs in the first inning off LU starter Taylor Gruell (9-8), who was lifted after facing just four batters and failing to get an out.
 
Anissa Rodriguez came on in relief and got out of the inning without any further damage. The Cardinals cut the Nicholls lead to 2-1 in the top of the third when Shelby Hughston scored on an error, but Nicholls put the game away with six unearned runs in the third inning, capitalizing on three LU errors in the frame.
 
Nicholls scored another unearned run in the bottom of the fifth to end the game via the run rule.
 
Nicholls starter Megan Landry (21-7) got the win for Nicholls, allowing three hits and unearned run over five innings. She walked three and struck out one.
 
Shelby Henderson, Taylor Davis and Elizabeth Castillo had the hits for LU. Jewel Lara and Amanda Gianelloni had three hits apiece for Nicholls.
   
The Cardinals outhit Nicholls 8-7, but the Colonels rapped out five hits in a six-run fourth inning before holding off a late LU rally.
 
LU starter Laura Napoli (13-15), allowed one hit over the first three innings, but the Colonels broke it open in the fourth inning with the five hits, a hit batter and an LU error. Four of Nicholls' six runs were unearned. Lara's bases-loaded triple to right field brought home the final three runs and chased Napoli from the game.
 
LU got in the board in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Davis before rallying with three runs in the seventh as Savana Guidry, Shannon Klaus and Kelly Meeuwsen all had RBIs, but LU could get no closer.
 
Napoli was charged with the loss, allowing six hits and six runs, two earned, over 3 2/3 innings. Amie Cisneros pitched 1 1/3 innings of perfect relief, while Julia Voluntad pitched a scoreless sixth inning for LU.
 
Alexis Bure (12-4) pitched a complete game for Nicholls, allowing eight hits and four runs, all earned. She walked four and struck out six.
 
Guidry and Davis had two hits apiece for LU. Meeuwsen's RBI was the 104^th of her career. The junior is three RBIs shy of the LU career record of 107 held by Ashley McDowell.
 
ON DECK: The Cardinals and Colonels wrap up their three-game series at 3 p.m. Saturday. There is a possibility of rain on Saturday. If Saturday's contest is postponed, the teams would conclude the series on Sunday. The Southland Conference Tournament gets underway Tuesday and runs through Friday at McNeese.