LIVE STATS

THIBODAUX, La. –  The Nicholls State University softball team will look to repeat as Southland Conference regular season champions as the 2019 Senior Class plays its final series at Swanner Field in a three-game set against Southeastern Louisiana.

With rain expected in the area, the teams will play a doubleheader on Friday, May 3 beginning at 5 p.m. The series finale on Saturday is slated for noon, and the Senior Day ceremony will begin immediately after the conclusion the game.

SOUTHLAND CHAMPIONSHIP BREAKDOWN
The top four teams in the Southland standings square off in the final weekend. Nicholls (30-19, 19-5 SLC) enters its series finale 1.0 games behind Sam Houston State (20-4) for first place. The Colonels would need two more wins than the Bearkats in the three-game sets to win the title outright. The Colonels could still earn a share of the title with one or two wins against SLU, depending on Sam Houston's results.

The Bearkats host Stephen F. Austin (17-7), which sits in third place and is still in contention for the regular season championship. SFA is up a game on the Colonels' opponent this weekend, SLU (16-8). The Lady Lions are tied with McNeese for fourth place.

THE SERIES MATCHUP
Nicholls is coming off another series victory by taking two of three games at Lamar last weekend. The Colonels have won seven of the eight conference series this year, with the lone loss coming to Sam Houston State.
Southeastern has also been strong in league play, losing just one series and has capture the last four. Last weekend, the Lady Lions won two of three in their Senior Weekend against McNeese.
In conference play, SLU leads the Southland with a .315 batting average while Nicholls is third at .297. The Colonels feature the league's best ERA at 1.49.

SENIOR DAY
Following the conclusion of the series, Nicholls will honor its seven-member 2019 Senior Class. Being recognized are four-year players Kasey Frederick, Amanda Gianelloni, Megan Landry, Gretchen Morgan, and Veronica Villafranco; three-year Maegen Ellis, and two-year Kali Clement. The 2019 Senior Class is 61-9 in Thibodaux in its four years.   

ON DECK
Nicholls will take part in the Southland Conference Tournament next week, hosted by Northwestern State in Natchitoches. Tournament play begins Tuesday and the championship will be played Friday. The Colones' first game will be either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on this weekend's results.