THIBODAUX – After spending spring break on the road, the Nicholls State University softball team will take on Southern University at the Colonel Softball Complex on Wednesday, kicking off a three-game homestand. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Live stats for the non-conference matchup against Southern (6-27) will be available at geauxcolonels.com and a live audio broadcast can be listened to at ThibodauxOnline.com, with Joe Fakier calling the action.

The Colonels (9-25) were slated for six games on the road during the break, but three were canceled due to the weather, including Monday's doubleheader at Grambling State.

Over the weekend, Nicholls was swept in its two-game conference series at Central Arkansas after scoring just one run. However, Ashley Bertot and Ashley Ray continued to spark the offense, accounting for five of the 10 hits.

Bertot, in her first season after transferring from the University at Buffalo, has put together an eight-game hitting streak to lead the Southland in batting average at .400. Last week she went 7-for-10 at the plate, including six consecutive hits which started with a 4-for-4 day against Centenary.

Ray, last season's SLC Player of the Year, had two hits on Saturday and trails Bertot with a .398 average. The Lafayette native has 27 RBIs on the year while ranking second in the SLC in slugging percentage (.714) and first in on-base percentage (.465).

In the circle, both Colonel starters, Katie Moulder and Ashton Bennett, were hit up for four runs in the opening inning of their starts against UCA before shutting down the SLC's top offense for the rest of the game. Bennett leads the Colonels with five wins, posting a 3.61 ERA, while Moulder has four victories and a 3.29 ERA.

The Lady Jaguars head into the game looking to snap a six-game losing streak, including losses against Southeastern and McNeese. The Colonels were scheduled to play at Southern earlier this season, but the game was canceled due to weather.

Southern is batting .256 as a team, led by three players hitting over .300. Shawntall Steamer heads the lineup with a .356 average, while Harley Roller is batting .353 with a team-high 17 RBIs. Audrey Phillips rounds out the leaders at .309 and is tied with Roller with 21 runs scored.

The Lady Jaguar pitching staff has a collective 6.54 ERA, with two starters – Kendyl Stevenson and Carla Arismendi – recording a pair of wins. Stevenson, who has eight starts, leads the team with a 5.73 ERA.

Following Wednesday's game, the Colonels will host Northwestern State for a two-game set. Friday's opener is scheduled for 6 p.m.