THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team currently sits at 10
th in the Southland Conference standings with only two league series remaining in the regular season. The Colonels are far from out of the race with a number of teams vying for the final few postseason spots, but Nicholls will need to make a strong push this weekend against in-state rival Northwestern State at Ray E. Didier Field.
The Colonels (22-27, 11-13 SLC) and Demons (27-21, 14-10 SLC) will meet at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with first pitch for the finale scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Nicholls appeared to be hitting its stride after a 3-0 series sweep of McNeese, but the Colonels suffered a midweek loss to ULM, before a disappointing 2-1 series defeat at the hands of Houston Baptist. Nicholls rebounded on Wednesday with its 25
th consecutive win over Alcorn State, earning a 6-4 victory at home.
One week ago, Northwestern State was the hottest team in the Southland Conference, riding an eight game winning streak and earning victories in five of its last six league games. The Demons cooled off in non-conference action, losing their series finale to Arkansas State, before being swept by Louisiana Tech in a two game home-and-home series. Despite the team's recent struggles, Northwestern State is currently fourth in the conference standings, and boasts the second-best pitching staff in the Southland, including the league's top arm, Adam Oller.
The Colonels own an 83-71 edge in the all-time series against the Demons. The teams split last year's rain-shortened two-game series in Natchitoches. Nicholls earned a 7-0 victory in game one, before Northwestern State escaped with a 1-0 victory in an abbreviated game two (six innings).
Kyle Knauth spearheads the Colonel offense with a .345 batting average, 50 hits, 29 RBIs, 22 runs and 13 doubles.
Gavin Wehby paces the squad with 55 hits, while
Ethan Valdez has a team-high 36 runs scored. Valdez,
Justin Holt and
Joey Morales have combined for 35 stolen bases in 43 attempts.
Cort Brinson heads up the Demon offense with 56 hits, 29 RBIs, 21 runs and 11 doubles, while narrowly squeaking into the 300-club with a .303 average. Brinson is the player on Northwestern State's roster averaging over .300. Nick Heath leads the team in runs with 35, and is a menace as a runner, with 34 stolen bases in 39 attempts.
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Nicholls
Friday: RHP Justin Sinibaldi (5-5, 2.94 ERA, 73 SO, 85.2 IP)
Saturday: RHP Cole Stapler (4-5, 3.58 ERA, 40 SO, 78.0 IP)
Sunday: LHP Alex Ernestine (3-4, 7.20 ERA, 25 SO, 40.0 IP)
Northwestern State
Friday: RHP Adam Oller (6-0, 1.41 ERA, 59 SO, 89.2 IP)
Saturday: LHP Chase Hymel (4-5, 3.11 ERA, 40 SO, 63.2 IP)
Sunday: RHP Evan Tidwell (4-3, 3.16 ERA, 21 SO, 62.2 IP)
Following this weekend's action the Colonels will face Tulane at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the Big Easy. Nicholls will then battle New Orleans in an away-home-away series set to begin at 6 p.m. on Friday.
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball visit geauxcolonels.com. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_BASE.
