THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team will begin a critical two-weekend stretch in Southland Conference play, starting with a three-game series against rival McNeese. 
 
Nicholls heads into the series tied for first place with Northwestern State, which the Colonels will host next weekend. McNeese is just one game behind Nicholls and NSU in standings after winning 10 of its last 11 league games.

GAMEDAY INFO
Nicholls (26-11, 11-4 SLC) @ McNeese (28-14, 10-5 SLC)
Lake Charles, Louisiana – Cowgirl Diamond
Friday, April 13 – 5 p.m.
Friday, April 13 – 7 p.m. 
Saturday, April 14 – 12 p.m.
LIVE STATS   |   VIDEO ($)
 
FIRST PITCH
- Rain in the forecast for this weekend altered the schedule, moving Saturday's doubleheader to Friday. 
- After two series wins at home, Nicholls will look to bounce back on the road from its lone series loss in conference at Southeastern Louisiana. The losses are the only two for the Colonels this season on the road (10-2). 
- Despite the Colonels' recent success, McNeese has had their number, winning seven of the last nine matchups. Nicholls won the first game in Thibodaux last season, 4-3, thanks to a late two-run home run by Kasey Frederick. But McNeese went on to win the next two to win the series, and then run-ruled the Colonels in both matchups in the Southland Conference Tournament - including an 8-0 shutout in the title game.
 
STORYLINES
- The Colonels pitching staff continues to be one of the best in the nation, ranking 26th in the NCAA with a 1.96 earned run average. Megan Landry leads the way with a league-best 1.64 ERA while posting a 14-6 record. Landry took a hard-luck loss in the Abilene Christian series last weekend as she tied her career high of 14 strikeouts in 14 shutout innings. She ended up allowing all three runs in the 15th inning in the 3-0 loss to the Wildcats, but set the program's single-game record with 14.1 innings pitched. 
- With Landry essentially pitching two games, freshman Alexis LaBure made two starts in conference play for the first time and went on to earn Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week. LaBure was 3-0 last week, striking out 19 batters in 16.2 innings. She tossed two complete games against ACU, highlighted by an 11-strikeout effort in the Colonels' 13-0 five-inning victory. 
- Batting .291 as a team on the year, the Colonels received an outstanding performance at the plate last week by catcher Moriah Strother. With only one career home run, Strother blasted not one, but two home runs in the second inning against ACU to fuel a 13-run frame. She started the scoring with a grand slam, and finished it with a three-run shot. In her three starts, Strother batted .556 with nine RBIs. 
 
SCOUTING THE COWGIRLS
-The Cowgirls earned a split at No. 16 Baylor, dropping a 10-2 decision in 5 innings Tuesday before winning, 7-3, Wednesday. 
- Justyce McClain heads the McNeese offense with a .441 batting average and 19 stolen bases. Erika Piancastelli, who beat out Strother for Hitter of the Week after becoming the Southland's all-time leader in RBIs, leads the SLC with 42 RBIs, 14 home runs and 14 doubles while batting .355. 
- Alexsandra Flores ranks eighth in the SLC with a 2.46 ERA and sports a 13-6 record. Flores dropped her last outing, allowing seven earned on 10 hits against Baylor.
 
ON DECK
Following the McNeese series, Nicholls will play its next five games at Swanner Field, starting with a Tuesday (April 17) doubleheader against Alcorn State. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.