THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team will begin its 2014 campaign with five games in the Lion Classic at Chappapeela Park in Hammond, La., starting with matchups against Texas Southern and Texas Tech on Friday, Feb. 7.

Nicholls will take on TSU at 3 p.m. and Texas Tech at 5 p.m. On Saturday, the Colonels will face Akron at 12:30 p.m. and Alabama State at 3 p.m. Nicholls wraps up the classic on Sunday against Buffalo at noon.

While third-year head coach Angel Santiago returns nine letterwinners including seven starters, the Colonels will have somewhat of a different look as 12 newcomers join the squad for 2014.

Leading the Colonel upperclassmen is senior catcher Brittany Marcet. The Pearland, Texas native had a breakout season last year, batting .331 with 29 RBIs to earn Southland Conference honorable mention. Along with leading the team in walks with 23, Marcet was stellar behind the plate as she threw out eight base stealers.

The returning sophomores are led by preseason second-team All-Southland outfielder Danielle Phillips, 2013 Southland honorable mention pitcher Hannah Haydel and outfielder Haley Parkerson. Phillips landed on third-team All-Southland last season after batting .301 with 20 RBIs and nine stolen bases. Phillips could see time at second base as well, replacing the Colonels' hits leader from last season, Ashley Bertot. Parkerson was third on the team in batting last season at .317 while Haydel posted a 9-10 record in the circle with a team-best 2.96 ERA.

Along with senior catcher Katie Holmes returning to the Colonels after a brief stint at Iowa, Santiago added three transfers - Laura Neil (McNeese), Kayla Prater (ULM) and Paige Goldsack (Coastal Carolina).
Neil sat out last season after hitting .500 with a home run in limited action with the Cowgirls, while Prater logged 47 starts behind the plate for ULM last season, finishing with 15 RBIs. Goldsack also started last season, batting .277 with three home runs and 12 RBIs.

Following the weekend action, Nicholls will take part in the Lovelace Invitation in Denton, Texas. The Colonels will play four games, starting Feb. 14 against Northern Iowa and host North Texas.