THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team returns to Southland Conference action this weekend as the squad faces a three-game series against Houston Baptist at Husky Field.
The Colonels (20-25, 10-11 SLC) and Huskies (20-23, 9-12 SLC) will meet at 2 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday, with the series finale set for a 2 p.m. start on Sunday.
Nicholls is coming off of a 3-1 loss to ULM on Tuesday, but the Colonels have won three consecutive league series. Nicholls earned a 2-1 series win over both Incarnate Word and Central Arkansas, before recording a 3-0 sweep of McNeese last weekend.
Houston Baptist enters this weekend's series on an opposite trajectory. The Huskies picked up a 7-3 victory over Texas Southern on Tuesday, but have lost seven straight conference games.
The Colonels own an 8-2 edge in the all-time series against Houston Baptist and earned 3-0 series sweep last season in Thibodaux.
Kyle Knauth spearheads the Nicholls offense with a .354 average, 46 hits, 26 RBIs and 20 runs.
Gavin Wehby has a team-high 53 hits on the year to go along with 25 RBIs and 25 runs.
Ethan Valdez paces the squad in both runs (32) and stolen bases (12).
Greg Espinosa leads the Husky offense, batting .308 with 15 RBIs and 23 runs. Louie Payetta also has 23 runs this season, is second on the team with a .300 average and has team-highs in both hits (51) and RBIs (22).
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Nicholls
Friday: RHP Justin Sinibaldi (5-4, 2.59 ERA, 70 SO, 80.0 IP)
Saturday: RHP Cole Stapler (3-5, 3.55 ERA, 38 SO, 71.0 IP)
Sunday: LHP Alex Ernestine (3-3, 6.56 ERA, 23 SO, 35.2 IP)
Houston Baptist
Friday: RHP Zach Carter (1-3, 5.95 ERA, 28 SO, 42.1 IP)
Saturday: LHP Christian Thames (2-5, 3.36 ERA, 31 SO, 56.1 IP)
Sunday: RHP Addison Russ (7-4, 3.35 ERA, 55 SO, 80.2 IP)
The Colonels are set for a 6 p.m. matchup with Alcorn State on May 11. Nicholls will then host a three-game Southland Conference series against Northwestern State, beginning at 6 p.m. on May 13.
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball visit geauxcolonels.com. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_BASE.
