THIBODAUX, La.  – The Nicholls State University softball team will host Stephen F. Austin in a three-game Southland Conference series at the Colonel Softball Complex, starting Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m.

The doubleheader can be listened to live on ThibodauxOnline.com. Sunday's finale will also be broadcast, with first pitch scheduled for noon.

Nicholls (11-16, 2-4 SLC) is coming off a run-rule victory against Southern on Wednesday, but dropped its previous two conference games last weekend at Northwestern State. So far in two conference series, the Colonels have taken the first game before going on to lose the next two.

Stephen F. Austin (9-18, 2-4 SLC) also won its midweek contest, shutting out Louisiana Tech 2-0 Wednesday. The Ladyjacks have won three in a row, including a pair of conference wins against Lamar. SFA opened conference play at Central Arkansas where the Ladyjacks were swept in the three-game set.

Although there are plenty of games left of the conference slate, this weekend's series could be crucial in both squads' postseason chances.  With only six teams making the Southland Conference Tournament, the Colonels and Ladyjacks need to make up ground as both teams are tied for eighth.

While the Colonels head into the series with a .252 team batting average, in six conference games, they are batting .312 and average over four runs per game.  Senior Ashton Bennett has led the way, ranking eighth in conference play with a .421 batting average. She also leads the team with five RBIs.

Overall, senior Ashley Bertot paces the team at the plate with a .318 average. Bertot has recorded a hit in the last nine games and leads the team in runs with 16.

In the circle, although the team ERA has improved in conference play (3.17), the staff's opponent batting average has increased, going from.262 to .296.  Bennett, who leads the Colonels with 84 innings pitched, has both of the wins in conference.

The Ladyjacks head to Thibodaux ranked sixth in batting in league games (.294), but are last overall with a .213 average. Shalie Day is one of two SFA players batting over .300, leading the 'Jacks with a .328 average. Elizabeth Arana is second in hitting (.324) and leads the team with 13 RBIs.

SFA has used two pitchers this season, with Carlie Thomas leading the staff with a 6-8 record, 2.94 ERA and 79 strikeouts. Angela White has 15 starts on the year, going 3-10 with 60 strikeouts and has struggled in limiting runs, posting a 7.00 ERA. 

The Colonels and SFA had a pitcher's duel in last year's two-game series, with each team winning a game. The Ladyjacks won the opener 2-0 before Nicholls bounced back to win 1-0.