NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team will look to earn a series sweep over No. 11 Tulane for the first time since 1995 as the Colonels battle the Green Wave at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Greer Field.
Nicholls (22-30, 11-16 SLC) picked up a 2-1 win over Tulane (35-15, 13-6 AAC) back on March 15 in Thibodaux, but the Colonels have struggled as of late. Nicholls is just 2-6 over its previous eight games and dropped three straight at home over the weekend to Northwestern State. The Colonels are 11-14 overall in non-conference action, but only 1-9 against non-conference opponents on the road.
Tulane picked up midweek victories over Southern and Southland Conference member New Orleans, before taking two of three games from Memphis over the weekend.
The Green Wave own a 60-25 edge in the all-time series against Nicholls.
Kyle Knauth spearheads the Colonel offense with a .344 batting average, 54 hits, 30 RBIs, 23 runs and 13 doubles.
Gavin Wehby leads the team with 58 hits, while
Ethan Valdez has scored a team-high 36 runs. Valdez,
Justin Holt and
Joey Morales have combined for 35 stolen bases in 43 attempts.
Stephen Alemais paces the Tulane offense with a .325 average, 52 hits, 30 runs, 23 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and 12 doubles. Hope Hunter leads the team 41 runs and Jerem Montalbono has driven in a team-high 40.
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Nicholls: LHP Zach Thiac (4-2, 4.28 ERA, 20 SO, 27.1 IP)
Tulane: RHP J.P. France (5-1, 3.16 ERA, 51 SO, 57.0 IP)
Nicholls will next face 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.
