THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team opens its season for the third straight year in Hammond, La. as the Colonels will play five games in the Lion Classic, starting Friday (Feb. 8) against Southern at 12:30 p.m.

The meeting with the Jaguars will be the first of two games on Friday, followed by a 3 p.m. matchup against St. Louis. On Saturday, Nicholls plays Louisiana Tech (12:30 p.m.) and Jacksonville State (3 p.m.) before closing out on Sunday against Delaware (10 a.m.). Sunday's game can be listened to live on ThibodauxOnline.com.

Nicholls, coming off a 14-31 season under head coach Angel Santiago, will have a new look this year as 12 newcomers join the team, including 10 freshmen. Seniors Leah Andrus and Ashley Bertot lead the returning starters on offense, with Ashton Bennett and junior Katie Moulder coming back as the Colonels' starting pitchers.

Bertot was the only Colonel to receive preseason recognition after being named first-team All-Southland and Newcomer of the Year last season. Bertot led the Southland in batting average at .388 and heads into the opener with a seven-game hitting streak. Andrus, who transferred from LSU-Eunice last year, had a team-high 24 doubles for Nicholls and was second with 24 RBIs.

Bennett and Moulder pace the pitching staff, combining for 249 innings pitched of the Colonels' total of 281 last season. Moulder had six wins and led the team in strikeouts (70), while Bennett had eight wins, with six coming in conference, and posted a 3.16 ERA.

The Colonels, who were picked to finished 7th and 5th by the coaches and sports information directors, respectively, in the Southland preseason polls, have lost their last two season openers. However, Nicholls has won 13 in a row against Southern, dating back to the 2005 season.

The Colonels will make their 2013 debut at home on Feb. 20 against South Alabama.