THIBODAUX, La. – After posting an impressive 12-6 record in its pre-conference schedule, the Nicholls State University softball team will open up Southland Conference play this weekend as the Colonels host Stephen F. Austin for a three-game series at the Colonel Softball Complex.
 
Nicholls and SFA (6-10) will square off at 1 p.m. on Saturday in a doubleheader before wrapping up the series on Sunday with a single game slated for noon. Saturday will also be the program's annual Military Appreciation Day and the team will wear special camouflage uniforms to honor former and current veterans.
 
Nicholls is riding a three-game winning streak into the conference opener after taking care of business at home earlier this week. The Colonels defeated Detroit in five innings, 9-1, on Monday before sweeping a Tuesday doubleheader with Holy Cross. Nicholls won the first game against the Crusaders, 15-6, in five innings and went on to complete the sweep with a 9-3 win in the night cap.
 
The Colonels head into the weekend with a .311 batting average, led by Alexis Huss and Haley Stevenson who are both hitting over .400 on the year. Huss has a team-high .453 average after her recent hot streak. In her last 13 at-bats, she has tallied 10 hits, including her third home runs of the season, and three walks. Stevenson is second at .442 and Payton Gremillion is next at .377.
 
Kayla Prater is hitting .317 on the year with four triples and team-high 21 RBIs. Danielle Phillips has driven in 17 runs while Huss is third with 16.
 
All three starting pitchers earned wins earlier this week, with Hannah Haydel claiming her fifth of the season. Haydel has a 5-2 mark on the year with a 2.31 ERA, Jackie Johnson is 4-4 with a 2.38 ERA and Taylor Hastings is a perfect 3-0 with a 3.33 ERA.
 
The Ladyjacks were scheduled to play twice this week but both games were canceled due to weather. Their last action came in the LSU Tournament where they posted a 1-4 mark, which included two losses to nationally-ranked LSU.
 
SFA comes to Thibodaux with a .225 batting average, led by Brittany Lewis' .370 clip. Lewis is tied for the team lead with three doubles and three homers, and has a team-best 14 RBIs.
 
In the circle, the staff has a collective 6.18 ERA. Callee Guffrey has made six starts, posting a 2-4 record with a 5.62 ERA while Makayla Sikes is 1-4 with a 6.94 ERA.
 
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