THIBODAUX – The Nicholls State University softball team will make the short trip to Baton Rouge on Wednesday to complete its three-game season series with the Louisiana State University Tigers. First pitch at Tiger Park is set for 6 p.m.

Nicholls (9-23) dropped the previous two contests against LSU (21-12), falling 11-2 in Houston and then were shutout 8-0 at the Colonel Softball Complex on March 23. Both victories for the Tigers were by mercy-rule in five innings.

The Colonels picked up a huge non-conference road victory over the University of Louisiana at Monroe last Thursday, but were unable to keep it going over the weekend. After falling in its doubleheader on Saturday against Southland-foe Central Arkansas, Nicholls gave up a two-run lead late in the series finale as UCA took the game 4-2 by scoring all of its runs in the sixth.

Junior center fielder Megan Gaspard had an exceptional week at the plate for the Colonels, hitting 9-of-13 (.692) with three runs scored. The Preseason All-Southland nominee raised her batting average to .303, joining junior Ashley Ray (.308) and sophomore Lauren Batiz (.306) as Nicholls' top hitters. Ray also made headlines on Saturday as she belted her eight homer of the season, putting her in sole possession of second place in the conference.

LSU suffered a season-worst seven game skid in March but have since recovered as they head into the matchup winners of six straight. The Tigers swept Arkansas last weekend which put the Purple and Gold just outside the Top 25.

Tammy Wray heads the offense as the lone Tiger batting over .300 for the season. Along with leading the team in batting average (.304) and RBIs (25), she is also tied for the team-high in doubles (5) and home runs (6). Leadoff hitter Simone Hayward is hitting at a .295 clip with 24 runs scored and 16 stolen bases

Meghan Patterson, who started both games against the Colonels, comes in with a 2.45 ERA and a 6-1 record. Patterson has shut down the Nicholls offense, giving up just two runs on three hits with 15 strikeouts in eight innings of work.

First pitch against LSU at Tiger Park is set for 6 p.m. Live audio will be available courtesy of geauxcolonels.com and ThibodauxOnline.com.