THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team will look to continue its strong start as the Colonels head to Hattiesburg, Mississippi this weekend for four games in the Black and Gold Invitational, hosted by Southern Miss.
 
GAME INFO
Southern Miss Softball Complex   |   Hattiesburg, Mississippi   l   LIVE STATS
Friday, Feb. 17 – 4 p.m. - vs. Jacksonville State
Friday, Feb. 17 – 7 p.m. - @ Southern Miss
Saturday, Feb. 18 – 12 p.m. – vs. Mississippi Valley State
Saturday, Feb. 19 – 12 p.m. – @ Southern Miss
 
STORYLINES
Nicholls enters the weekend with a 6-1 record after a doubleheader sweep against Jackson State Wednesday night. The Colonels took game 1 against the Tigers, 13-0, in five innings and followed up with an 8-0 win in five in the night cap.
 
The Colonels' pitching was dominant once again as Landry tossed a no-hitter and struck out six in the first game, and Johnson followed with a one-hitter and struck out eight. Landry is 4-0 on the season with a 0.30 ERA and Johnson posts a 2-1 mark with a 0.39 ERA.
 
Freshman Samantha Mracich leads the Colonels with 11 hits and a .524 batting average. Seven players have three or more RBIs, paced by sophomore Veronica Villafranco with six.
 
The Colonels are batting .306 on the season, while the pitching staff has limited opponents to a .135 batting average.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Golden Eagles enter the tournament weekend 4-2 overall, coming off a huge doubleheader sweep last Sunday against No. 11 Louisiana-Lafayette in the 31st annual Louisiana Classic.
 
The Gamecocks are 4-1 entering the weekend, with wins over Central Arkansas (2x), Alabama State, and Houston Baptist. The lone loss (0-1) was to South Alabama.
 
Mississippi Valley State: The Devilettes enter the weekend 1-4 on the season, with a win over Coppin State 7-3. MVSU and the Colonels met in the Lion Classic last weekend, with Nicholls winning 4-3.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels will host Alcorn State for a Tuesday doubleheader (Feb. 21). First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.