THIBODAUX, La. – For the sixth consecutive season, the Nicholls State University softball team will begin its campaign in the Lion Classic hosted by Southeastern Louisiana, starting Friday, Feb. 11 at North Oak Park.
 
The Colonels will play a total of five games over three days. Nicholls will take on Southern Illinois (1 p.m.) and Mississippi Valley State (5:30 p.m.) on Friday, before squaring off against Tennessee State (12 p.m.) and Buffalo (2:30 p.m.) on Saturday. The Colonels will close out the weekend with a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday against Tennessee-Martin.
 
Nicholls is coming off a 26-22 overall record, which was the program's first winning season since 2010. The Colonels bring back a wealth of experience, highlighted by Second Team All-Southland shortstop Brooke Morris and third teamer Payton Gremillion.
 
Morris leads the returnees in the infield after she hit .358 as a sophomore and scored a team-high 33 runs. She is joined in the diamond by junior third baseman Haley Stevenson (.345 BA, 22 RBIs), and seniors Alexis Huss (.311 BA, 31 RBIs) at first and Danielle Phillips (.278 BA, 25 RBIs) at second. Behind the plate is two-year starter Kayla Prater, who hit .289 last season while leading the squad with 34 RBIs. Also returning is sophomore Kimmie Rodriguez (.219 BA, 11 RBIs) who was named All-Southland honorable mention as a designated player.
 
Gremillion heads the outfield, which also brings back 2015 Southland Newcomer of the Year Jessica Taylor (.313 BA, 26 RBIs) and veteran Haley Parkerson (.284 BA, 17 RBIs). As a true freshman, Gremillion led Nicholls with a .362 batting average and scored 30 runs on the year.
 
For the third straight year, the pitching staff will be led by senior Hannah Haydel and junior Jackie Johnson. Haydel was named All-Southland honorable mention in 2015 after going 13-10 with a 2.94 ERA and 109 strikeouts. Johnson battled an injury last season, but still put together a 7-9 record with a 4.75 ERA. Both pitchers held the opposition to under a .240 batting average.
 
Nicholls added eight freshmen from its 2016 recruiting class, headlined by three Louisiana natives who earned all-state recognition – Amanda Gianelloni, Megan Landry and Bailey Tuminello. Also joining the team are Texas natives Kasey Frederick, Madison Jeffrey, Gretchen Morgan, and Veronica Villafranco; and Georgia native Sydnee Council.
 
Following the weekend action, Nicholls will make its Colonel Softball Complex on Wednesday, Feb. 17 with a doubleheader against Jackson State. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Admission to all home softball games are free of charge.