THIBODAUX, La. -- Bolstered by a major midweek upset victory over No. 11 LSU, the Nicholls State University baseball program (1-3, 0-0 SLC) looks to build some early momentum heading into the core of the team's season-opening 13-game home stretch, hosting the Louisiana's Cajun Bayou Mardi Gras Classic from Friday, Feb. 21 through Monday, Feb. 24 at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field.

The four-day tournament will feature six games, pitting the Colonels, Arkansas-Little Rock (3-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) and fellow Southland member McNeese (4-1, 0-0 SLC) against each other while Southern slips in for an early Sunday contest with the Trojans.

For the Red & Gray, the pitching staff aims to recover following a rough start in the Baseball on the Bayou Classic, dropping three tight contests to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and George Washington. Headlining that group will be projected starters RHP Trever Kilcrease and LHP Shane Mejia Jr. -- combined 21 total strikeouts across their two appearances -- along with top relievers RHP Peter Holland and LHP Joe Taylor, both of whom currently hold a 0.00 ERA through 4.1 innings pitched.

WHAT: Nicholls vs. Arkansas-Little Rock
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 21 | 6 p.m. // Saturday, Feb. 22 | 6 p.m.
WHERE: Ray E. Didier Field | Thibodaux, La.
MEDIA: Live Stats | Watch
TICKETS: Single-Game | Packages

WHAT: Nicholls vs. McNeese
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 23 | 6 p.m. // Monday, Feb. 24 | 6 p.m.
WHERE: Ray E. Didier Field | Thibodaux, La.
MEDIA: Live Stats | Watch
TICKETS: Single-Game | Packages

COMPLETE PROGRAM BREAKDOWN
Roster | Schedule | Quick Facts

• Seth Thibodeaux enters his 10th season at the helm for the Red & Gray, sporting a 257-251 (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
With the opening eight matchups of the season wrapped up, including back-to-back home weekend tournaments along with a major midweek contest against No. 11 LSU, the Colonels receive a well-deserved three-day break before hosting a four-game series against LIU, set for Friday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, Mar. 1.

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

 

The Red & Gray welcome a slew of opponents to Didier Field this weekend, hosting @LittleRockBSB, @McNeeseBaseball & @SuBaseball1 across a four-day tournament.

Lock up your seats now with the first pitch set for Friday afternoon & games stretching through late Monday.#dirtyred pic.twitter.com/li0aBibSx8

— Nicholls Baseball (@Nicholls_BSB) February 20, 2020