THIBODAUX – After taking a break from Southland Conference action last weekend, the Nicholls State University softball team will return to SLC play as the Colonels face Central Arkansas for a two-game set. Friday night's opener at Farris Field is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Live stats will be available for both games as well as a live internet broadcast, courtesy of ThibodauxOnline.com. Saturday's finale is set for noon.

Nicholls (9-23, 4-4) is coming off a 9-1 run-rule victory at Centenary on Wednesday and will look to stay in contention for a berth in the Southland Tournament. Almost at the halfway mark of their conference slate, the Colonels are currently sixth in the standings, with Central Arkansas close behind at 5-7.

Over the past eight games, Nicholls has found its groove at the plate, hitting .347  with four double-digit hit outings. The Colonels, who are third in the SLC with a team .280 batting average, featuring two of the top three hitters in average in the Southland.

Senior Ashley Ray ranks second in the Southland at .398, followed by junior Ashley Bertot (.394). Ray belted her seventh home run of the season in the Colonels' last outing, giving her sole possession of third place on the all-time home run list with 24. Bertot, who is second in the league with 12 stolen bases, had four hits on Wednesday to push her hitting streak to six games.

Three other Colonels are inching towards the .300 mark, led by junior Leah Andrus (.299). Andrus, who was recently named LSWA Hitter of the Week, recorded her first home run of the season last game and is tied for fourth in the SLC with 10 doubles. Sophomore Kat Angeles (.297) and junior Ashton Bennett (.296) round out the leaders for the Colonels.

Central Arkansas (29-17) tied their program record for wins on Wednesday after defeating ULM 5-0. In their previous game, the Sugar Bears, who possess the league's top offense with a .324 batting average, pounded out 15 hits in an 18-1 victory against Hendrix.

UCA has three hitters in the top seven of the SLC in batting average -  Nicole Beals (.393), Lissa Avitia (.376) and Stephanie Lasley (.374). The Sugar Bears have scored 261 runs on the year, with Ashley Boswell leading the Southland with 33 RBIs, followed by Avitia (31), Kasey Britt (28) and Beals, who is tied with Nicholls' Ray with 27.

In the circle, Kelsie Armstrong has anchored the staff for the Sugar Bears, starting in 26 games. Armstrong posts a 17-10 record, 1.83 ERA and has struck out 185 on the year.

Following the two-game series, the Colonels will wrap up its road trip with a doubleheader at Grambling on Monday.