THIBODAUX, La. -- Less than a week after kicking off the 2020 campaign in earnest, the Nicholls State University baseball program (0-3, 0-0 Southland) aims to score a key early-season victory in the team's midweek opener against in-state powerhouse No. 11 LSU (3-1, 0-0 SEC), first pitch against the Tigers set for 6 p.m on Wednesday evening at Ray E. Didier Field.

In last season's edition of the same contest, the Colonels narrowly missed upsetting the then-seventh ranked Tigers in hostile Baton Rouge, holding a one-run lead as late as the ninth frame before a pair of RBI doubles vaulted LSU to a 5-4 extra innings victory. Notably, however, the Red & Gray offense showcased impressive power in the tight loss, as current seniors Adam Tarver and Dillon Belle combined for three solo home runs while current redshirt junior Austin France registered an RBI double as well.

WHAT: Nicholls vs. No. 11 LSU
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 19 | 6 p.m.
WHERE: Ray E. Didier Field | Thibodaux, La.
MEDIA: Live Stats | CST
TICKETS: Sold Out | Visitor's Guide

COMPLETE PROGRAM BREAKDOWN
Roster | Schedule | Quick Facts

• Seth Thibodeaux enters his 10th season at the helm for the Red & Gray, sporting a 256-251 (132-139 SLC) overall record with the Colonels.
• The team boasts 11 seniors: LHP Zach Autin, C Dillon Belle, LHP Bryan Taylor, INF Alex Galy, RHP Trever Kilcrease, OF Alec Paz, C Chris Sandberg, RHP Peter Holland, LHP Austin Bollinger, LHP Beau Balado & INF Adam Tarver.
• This year's roster is highlighted by 14 newcomers, as senior Alex Galy joined the program via direct transfer (Tulane), juniors INF Justin Ory, RHP Cade Evans, LHP Joe Taylor, RHP Jordan Lansford, RHP Dwain Varisco, RHP David Vial Jr. & C Erick Hernandez climbed aboard via a JUCO program and freshmen INF Hunter Gotreaux, INF Brayden Jobert, OF Caleb Hill, UT Lane Hutchinson, C Kolby Dufrene & INF Ethan Lege signed on directly from high school.
• This season's depth chart features 21 players from across the state of Louisiana, six from Texas, a trio from Florida and one from each of the following: Arizona, California, Georgia, Mississippi & Tennessee.
• The Colonels were projected to finish eighth in the Southland Conference, per the league's preseason poll.
• Nicholls returns six players from last year's batting order (Dane Simon, Chris Sandberg, Adam Tarver, Austin France, Dillon Belle & Alec Paz) along with two starting pitchers (Trever Kilcrease & Shane Mejia Jr.) and two primary relievers (Tyler Theriot & Beau Balado).

UP NEXT
Following the high-profile midweek contest with No. 11 LSU, the Red & Gray continue their early-season 13-game home stretch with the program's second-consecutive weekend tournament, hosting both Arkansas-Little Rock and fellow Southland member McNeese in the Louisiana's Cajun Bayou Mardi Gras Classic, set for Friday, Feb. 21 through Sunday, Feb. 24.

STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Colonels Baseball, follow the team on Twitter (@Nicholls_BASE), Instagram (@geauxcolonels) and like their Facebook page (Nicholls Athletics).