THIBODAUX, La.  – Still in the hunt for a postseason berth, the Nicholls State University softball team will play host to in-state rival Northwestern State in its home series finale, starting Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at the Colonel Softball Complex.
 
Saturday will also serve as the Colonels' annual Strike Out Cancer Game, which helps raise breast cancer awareness. Following Sunday's 1 p.m. single game, Nicholls will honor its three seniors – Katie Holmes, Brittany Marcet and Katie Moulder.
 
Despite falling in their series last weekend, the Colonels (17-30, 7-12) had a strong showing against first-place McNeese State, rallying to win game two by the score of 5-4. Sophomores Hannah Haydel and Haley Parkerson played key roles in the win as Haydel tossed a complete game and Parkerson's bases loaded two-run double in the sixth gave Nicholls  the lead for good.
 
Over the past 10 games, the trio of Taylor Terrio, Parkerson and Danielle Phillips has been stellar at the plate, combining for 38 of the Colonels' 80 hits during the span. Terrio leads the Southland with a .397 batting average and 58 hits while Phillips is at .295, good for third on the team. After a bit of a slow start, Parkerson has raised her average to .263 on the year, helped by a .311 average in conference.
 
In the circle, Haydel leads the team in conference play with a 3-5 record and a 2.72 ERA. Freshman Jackie Johnson also has three wins in Southland competition and leads the team on the year with nine wins and 112 strikeouts.
 
Northwestern State (22-19, 10-9) heads to Thibodaux winners of five of its last seven. The Lady Demons have won their last two conference series, defeating Central Arkansas and Incarnate Word. On Wednesday, NSU defeated Louisiana Tech 8-7.
 
The Lady Demons are led at the plate by Tara McKenney, whose .370 average ranks eighth in the league to go along with a team-high 51 hits. Brittany Virgoe is second on the team at .359 while Cassandra Barefield and Kellye Kincannon have a team-best 30 RBIs each.
 
In the circle, Kaylee Guidry heads the NSU pitching staff with a 9-3 record and a 2.90 ERA. In 72-plus innings, she has surrendered 63 hits, limiting teams to just a .230 batting average.
 
Last season, Nicholls won the opener against NSU in Natchitoches, 6-4, before dropping the final two games, 4-3 and 5-2.