THIBODAUX, La.  – After splitting its two non-conference games this week, the Nicholls State University  softball team returns to Southland Conference play with a three-game series at Northwestern State, beginning Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m.

All three games can be listened to online at ThibodauxOnline.com. Sunday's finale is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Nicholls defeated Alcorn State on Tuesday at home, before losing in five innings against No. 13 LSU Wednesday. Like in the last meeting with the Tigers, Nicholls was kept off the board, but this time, LSU figured out Colonel starter Ashton Bennett, scoring eight runs in the first inning off the senior after only plating one run in her complete game in the earlier meeting.

The Colonels could only produce one hit against the nationally-ranked Tigers, dropping their season batting average to .241. Senior Ashley Bertot led the game off with an infield single and is second on the team with a .307 average. Bertot leads Nicholls with 13 runs and is tied for the team lead in stolen bases (6) with freshman Haley Parkerson. Bertot and Parkerson both carry five-game hitting streaks into the weekend.

Nicholls' pitching staff had a rough week, allowing 13 earned runs on 21 hits for an 8.27 ERA. Although the Colonels struck out 11 against Alcorn, the Lady Braves had 12 hits and LSU tagged Nicholls with nine in four innings.

After posting an impressive 18-3 non-conference record, Northwestern State opened conference play last weekend with two losses at McNeese, 1-0 and 5-2. The Cowgirls did not have a chance to earn the sweep as Sunday's game was canceled due to rain.

The Lady Demons are hitting .330 as a team, with a remarkable seven hitters batting over .300. Two of the seven are hitting .400 or better, led by Brittany Virgoe with a .405 average, followed closely behind by Brianna Rodriguez (.400). Virgoe has a hit in all but three games and heads into the series with a six-game hitting streak.

The NSU pitching staff has a 1.97 team ERA, led by Kylie Roos and Kaylee Guidry. Roos has been one of the top hurlers in the Southland so far, ranking second in ERA (1.36), first in opponent batting average (.147) and fifth in strikeouts (62). Roos has a 6-1 record, while Guidry posts a 4-1 mark.

Following the three-game set in Natchitoches, Nicholls will host Southern University on Wednesday, March 20. First pitch at the Colonel Softball Complex is slated for 6 p.m.