THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team will look to build on their most productive offensive performance of the season as they host Southland Conference opponent, Incarnate Word, in a three-game series set to begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
 
The Colonels (15-12-1, 5-7 SLC) registered a 4-0 shutout against the Southland Conference leader, Southeastern Louisiana, on Sunday, and scored 14 runs on 16 hits against Alcorn State on Tuesday night. The Cardinals (11-16, 2-7 SLC) have struggled this season, but are coming off of a 7-3 win over UT-Pan American Tuesday, and have won two of their last three contests overall.
 
Nicholls took a 2-1 series victory over Incarnate Word last season in San Antonio. The Cardinals stunned the Colonels with a 6-2 win in the series-opener, but Nicholls responded with consecutive shutouts over the next two games.
 
This season the Colonels have been dominant on the defensive side, boasting three of the top four pitchers in the league. Right-hander Ryan Deemes (3-0) is first in the Southland with a 0.97 ERA, righty Justin Sinibaldi (5-1) is second in the SLC with a 1.15 ERA and lefty Grant Borne (1-5) is fourth in the league with a 1.29 ERA. Borne is also second in the conference in strikeouts with 53 this year. Southpaw reliever Stuart Holmes (1-0) is first in the conference and fifth in the nation in saves with nine this season and carries a 0.54 ERA. Holmes needs just three more saves to set the school record for career saves and the record for saves in a season simultaneously.
 
Nicholls will toss Deemes in the series-opener, Borne on Friday and Sinibaldi on Saturday against Incarnate word.
 
Geno Encina (1-1) will take the mound for the Cardinals on Thursday, Garret Cooper (4-2) will start on Friday and Brandon Anderson (1-3) will throw in the series-finale. Encina enters the weekend with a 3.60 ERA, Cooper brings an ERA of 3.21 and Anderson carries a 4.36 ERA. Cooper leads the squad in strikeouts, with 31 this season.
 
Kyle Reese spearheads the Colonel offense, batting .333 with 13 runs scored, 12 RBIs, nine doubles and two triples on the year. Justin Holt boasts a team-high 18 runs and is second on the team with a .288 average. Tanner Vandevere paces the squad with 15 RBIs, and is hitting .269 this season.
 
Ethan McGill leads Incarnate Word at the plate, bringing a .319 average into the series against Nicholls. Austin Hoffman has a team-leading 18 RBIs, while Matt Morris is first on the team in runs (17) and second in RBIs (17).
 
First pitch for this weekend's series is slated for 6 p.m. on Thursday. Game two is set for 6 p.m. on Friday and the series-finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday. All three contests will be broadcast live on KTIB 640 AM.
 
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