THIBODAUX, La. – Coming off of its second weekend series win of the season, the Nicholls State University baseball team faces its toughest two games to date in hosting the Tulane Green Wave on Tuesday in Thibodaux before traveling on Wednesday to take on the hot-hitting ULL Ragin Cajuns in Lafayette.

The Colonels head into the week 5-2 overall on the season, giving the team their best start in over ten years, winning back-to-back weekend series' for the first time since 2002, as that team started the season winning their first eight games of the year before having its first loss.

After dropping the first game on Friday, Nicholls took the final two games against Towson, halting the Tigers' winning streak to open the year while improving to 3-1 at home at Ray E. Didier Field. In the final two games the Colonels held Towson to just five hits in each, earning the team's first shutout since Jackson State last season. The defense also came through, committing no errors on Saturday or Sunday, turning three double plays on the weekend to halt Tiger rallies.

At the plate the Colonels made the most of their opportunities, hitting .295 as a squad and improving their season average to .303 on the year. Mike Barba led the way with a .500 average over the three days, producing five hits including a double and triple, scoring three times including the game winner on Sunday. Matt Richard has earned a hit in every game so far this season, and has a 12-game hitting streak dating back to last season. Philip Lyons hit Nicholls' third home run of the season over the weekend, as the Colonels had a total of 11 hits for extra bases with eight doubles, two triples and the lone home run.

The pitching staff lowered its ERA to 2.61 after another strong series of starts, as Taylor Byrd and Kory Delange moved to 2-0 on the season. Byrd became the first starting pitcher to fan ten batters in a game since Mike Suk did it last season, while Delange remained undefeated as a starter during his tenure at Nicholls, lowering his season ERA to .75. Jordan McCoy picked up his first two saves of the season, bringing his career total to nine after his seven from last season.

The game on Tuesday will be the first of three against the Green Wave this season, as Nicholls will play the final two in New Orleans on April 2 and May 7 later this year. Nicholls lost 5-2 to the Green Wave last year in their only meeting at Turchin Stadium, as Tulane comes to Thibodaux for the first time since 2008. Nicholls rekindles its rivalry with ULL after a one-year absence, with the Ragin Cajuns making the return trip to Thibodaux on April 16. 

Louisiana-Lafayette is off to one of its best starts since 2007, sitting at 7-1 on the year after sweeping UTSA over the weekend, while Tulane is 3-4 after getting swept by Notre Dame at home. First pitch against the Green Wave is at 6:30 p.m. in Thibodaux on Tuesday, and at 6 p.m. in Lafayette on Wednesday