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LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team had winning streaks of 13 and eight games this season, and all they need to do now is put together four straight wins as the Colonels stayed alive in the Southland Conference Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Central Arkansas on Thursday afternoon.
 
With the win, No.2-seed Nicholls (39-16) will take on No. 5-seed Stephen F. Austin later tonight (Thursday), with first pitched scheduled for around 9 p.m. The Ladyjacks had an amazing comeback in Thursday's first game against Sam Houston, scoring 11 runs in the seventh to win 14-11. The winner between Nicholls/SFA will need to win twice on Friday to win the tournament title, taking on No.1-seed McNeese and No. 3-seed Lamar.
 
With the weather delays early in the day, first pitch was pushed back three hours to 4:30 p.m., but the time change did not hamper senior Hannah Haydel (23-8) as she rebounded from her worst outing of the season on Wednesday with a masterful 2-hit complete game.  
 
Haydel and UCA hurler Shivaun Landeros (21-15) battled it out through the first three innings as neither allowed a run. But senior Haley Parkerson jump started Nicholls' offense in the fourth with a leadoff double, and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by freshman Veronica Villafranco.
 
The lead was short-lived however as UCA (35-22) recorded its first hit off of Haydel in the fifth, and added another one to tie the game at 1-all. Two great plays by freshman Amanda Gianelloni kept the singles in the infield, but a wild pitch led to a RBI single by Brianna Whisenhunt.
 
UCA then threatened in the top of the sixth, putting runners on the corners after a walk and an error. After a visit from head coach Angel Santiago, Haydel fanned the next two batters to keep the score tied at 1.
 
In the sixth, Nicholls plated two runs on two hits to give Haydel a 3-1 cushion. Danielle Phillips led off the frame with a walk, and after Parkerson fouled off her first two bunt attempts, she slapped the ball in play to move Phillips to second. Gianelloni drew a walk and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Villafranco then recorded her second RBI as she grounded out to short to give Nicholls the lead. Alexis Huss capped the inning with a RBI single down the third base line for a two-run lead.
 
Haydel pitched a perfect seventh to lift Nicholls to its first postseason victory since 2008. She finished with eight strikeouts and walked four.
 
Nicholls had five hits in the win, led by two from freshman Kasey Frederick. Landeros allowed all five hits and three runs in 5.2 innings of work.