THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team will begin a crucial two-weekend stretch in league play, starting with a three-game series against first-place Abilene Christian.
 
Nicholls heads into the series a game behind ACU, which is tied for first with McNeese in the standings. Following the series with the Wildcats, the Colonels will host the defending champion Cowgirls for a three-game set.
 
GAMEDAY INFO
Nicholls (24-12, 10-2 SLC) @ Abilene Christian (22-14, 11-1 SLC)
Abilene, Texas – Poly Wells Field
Friday, April 7 – 6 p.m.        |  LIVE STATS
Saturday, April 8 – 12 p.m.  |  LIVE STATS  |  VIDEO ($)
Saturday, April 8 – 2 p.m.    |  LIVE STATS  |  VIDEO ($)
 
FIRST PITCH
-Although Abilene Christian is in its fourth season as a member of the Southland Conference, this weekend marks the first time that Nicholls will face ACU.
- Through four series, Nicholls has swept the two at home (HBU and Southeastern La.) for a 6-0 record, and took both series on the road (SFA and Central Arkansas) two games to one.
- The Colonels are 7-5 this season in road games. Two of the losses were 1-run games against teams in the Top 25 (LSU, Ole Miss).
 
STORYLINES
-Nicholls and ACU head into the series with the top pitching staffs in the Southland. The Colonels post the SLC's best ERA (2.15), lead the league in strikeouts (218) and are second in opponent batting average (.218). ACU is second in ERA (2.51) and strikeouts (194) and lead the SLC in opp. BA (.210).
- The Colonels are led in the circle by senior Jackie Johnson and sophomore Megan Landry, who each ranked in the top 5 of the SLC in ERA. Johnson is third in ERA (1.75) and strikeouts (103), while Landry is fifth (2.46) and second (106) in the respective categories. In league play, Johnson is 6-0 with a 0.99 ERA and a .151 opponent BA.
- Nicholls is fourth in the Southland in batting average (.283) and third in runs scored (175). Freshman Samantha Mracich is second in the SLC with a .408 batting average. Including Mracich, the Colonels have six players batting .300 or better – Kasey Frederick (.333), Jessica Taylor (.325), Amanda Gianelloni (.321), Brooklyn Devine (.318) and Brooke Morris (.303).
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
-ACU's top-ranked pitching staff is led by Freshman/Pitcher of the Year candidate Sydney Holman. She currently ranks fourth in the SLC in ERA (1.82), first in strikeouts (109) and has a 15-3 record on the year.
- The Wildcats are led on offense by Taylor Brown (.339 BA) and Peyton Hedrick (.333). Hedrick has been one of the SLC's top run producers with 11 home runs and 37 RBIs.
-ACU is coming off a nonconference victory over Texas Tech Wednesday, 5-1. Holman limited Tech to two hits in a complete game effort and a three-run fifth by the Wildcats was more than enough to lift ACU to a win over a Big XII opponent.
 
ON DECK
Nicholls will head to Alcorn State on Tuesday for a doubleheader, before hosting McNeese next weekend. The series opener on Friday, April 14 is scheduled for 6 p.m.