THIBODAUX – For the second straight year, the Nicholls State University softball team will open its season in Hammond, La. as the Colonels are scheduled to play five games this weekend in the Lion Classic at North Oak Park.

The Colonels start the 2012 campaign with two games on Friday, with the first against Northern Illinois at 3 p.m. Nicholls then wraps up day one versus Tennessee-Martin, scheduled for approximately 5:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Nicholls takes on Akron at 12:30 p.m., who the Colonels defeated last year in the Lion Classic, followed by a 3 p.m. game against Troy. The Colonels close out the weekend slate on Sunday against Jackson State at 11 a.m.

The Colonel softball program will begin a new era this season under the direction of head coach Angel Santiago, who came to Nicholls after a three-year stint at Florida State as an assistant coach.

“The offseason is over and we're ready to go,” said Coach Santiago. “This whole team is overhauled and they're doing what they are supposed to do, with a lot more thought and promise of making the games go their way, instead of just hoping. Mentally, this team is tougher, but we haven't been tested yet, so we'll see how they handle the challenge.”

Santiago's 2012 squad returns 10 letterwinners, including the senior duo, Megan Gaspard and Ashley Ray, who both earned first-team Preseason All-Southland honors.

Ray played all 52 games last year at third base for the Colonels, garnering several accolades including Southland Conference Player of the Year. Ray, who heads into the opener with a 14-game hitting streak, which is tied for the program's longest, blasted a Colonel-record 17 home runs, drove in 51 runs and ranked second in the SLC in hitting at .369. Along with playing the hot corner, Ray will also tailor some of the catching duties behind the plate.  

Gaspard returns for the Colonels after making third-team All-SLC as a utility player. A native of Coteau, La., Gaspard has been a staple in the Colonel program since her arrival, starting in all 154 games over the three-year span. Last season, Gaspard hit a career-best .330 and ranked second in the league with 22 stolen bases.

Heading the junior class is hurler Ashton Bennett, who led the pitching staff in wins (7), strikeouts (82) and ERA (2.95). Lauren Batiz Dinvaut and Brittany Ezell round out the returning juniors, and two transfers – Ashley Bertot and Leah Andrus, join the Colonels this season. Bertot played two years at the University at Buffalo, while Andres comes from LSU-Eunice, where she helped lead the Lady Bengals to a national championship in 2011.

All five returning sophomores had significant playing time last season, which includes Kat Angeles , redshirt Alaina Guidry, Lauren Jolivette, Katie Moulder and Brittany Marcet.  Moulder had a solid freshman season in the circle, posting three wins with one shutout, while Marcet hit three homers with 12 RBIs.

Rounding out the roster are six freshmen including one redshirt, Megan Marcet, who is the twin of teammate Brittany. Joining the Colonels will be another set of twins, Rachael and Victoria Hugghins, from Port Allen, La. Also hailing from Louisiana is all-state Priscilla Burns, who played at John Curtis in River Ridge. Last but not least are Rachel Moore, from Katy, Texas, and all-state honoree, Paige Miller, out of Poplarville High in Mississippi.

First pitch for opening day is scheduled for 3 p.m. For Sunday's finale, a live internet broadcast will be available, courtesy of ThibodauxOnline.com.