THIBODAUX, La. -- Buoyed by a 3-1 series victory over LIU this past weekend, the Nicholls State University baseball program (6-6, 0-0 SLC) wraps up a season-opening 13-game home stretch with a midweek contest Tuesday night, squaring off against northern opponent Valparaiso (1-9, 0-0 MVC) at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field, first pitch set for 6 p.m.

The pitching matchup will feature sophomore RHP Nick Hill for the Red & Gray, who sports a perfect 0.00 ERA on just one appearance thus far, versus the Crusaders' Eason Rhodehouse, a fellow right-hander boasting a 6.23 ERA and the team's lone win of the season. Hill cleaned up the final 2.1 frames in an 11-4 loss to Arkansas-Little Rock during the Mardi Gras Classic, setting down one batter on strikes while giving up just a single hit.

WHAT: Nicholls vs. Valparaiso
WHEN: Tuesday, Mar. 2 | 6 p.m.
WHERE: Ray E. Didier Field | Thibodaux, La.
MEDIA: Live Stats | Watch
TICKETS: Single-Game

COMPLETE PROGRAM BREAKDOWN
Roster | Schedule | Quick Facts

• Seth Thibodeaux enters his 10th season at the helm for the Red & Gray, sporting a 262-254 (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 13 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, C Kolby Dufrene & INF Ethan Lege signed on directly from high school.
• This season's depth chart features 20 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, North Carolina & 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 13-game home opening stretch concluded, the Red & Gray turn their attention to the team's first league series of the season, taking a short trip east Friday, Mar. 6 through Sunday, Mar. 8 for a three-game set at New Orleans.

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