THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team will make its 2021 season debut in the annual Lion Classic, hosted in Hammond by Southeastern Louisiana.
Times for the games have been adjusted once again. Nicholls will now play on Saturday at noon and immediately after at 2 p.m. Sunday's schedule will be decided that morning.
UPDATED SCHEDULE
Saturday, February 13
12 p.m. - Nicholls vs. North Texas (at St. Thomas Aquinas HS or SLU)
2 p.m. - Nicholls vs. South Dakota (at St. Thomas Aquinas HS or SLU)
Sunday, February 14
10 a.m. - South Dakota vs. Nicholls (at St. Thomas Aquinas HS or SLU)
2 p.m. - North Texas vs. Nicholls (at St. Thomas Aquinas HS or SLU)
Nicholls graduated three seniors –
Samantha Dares, Mallory Marino, and
Samantha Dares – from last year, but return a bulk of its players from the shortened season. The Colonels ended the year 12-14 overall, however, won its lone conference series against HBU.
A trio of Colonels were having career years at the plate before the season was canceled.
Corynn Major led the team with a .365 batting average and ended the campaign on a high note with three hits in the 4-3 victory over HBU.
Kennedy Hebert was close behind with a .359 average and led the team with a .577 slugging percentage, helped by four home runs, three doubles and a triple.
Melise Gossen rounds out the top hitters after batting .350 with a team-high four doubles in the 26 games.
Caitlin Garcia was the lone Colonel to earn preseason all-conference. The slugger belted five home runs and drove in 18 RBIs while batting .260.
In the circle, the Colonels welcome back the entire staff from last season.
Jordan Moon finished the year strong, posting a 1.92 ERA and a 6-4 record. She tossed back-to-back complete game victories against HBU and also had an impressive 9.2 shutout innings in the 4-3 16-inning win over South Alabama.
Emily Danehower saw the most work in 2020, going 5-5 with a 4.05 ERA in 74-plus innings. Danehower's best outing was a two-hit complete game in the win over Purdue.
Following the Lion Classic, Nicholls will have back-to-back doubleheader next weekend, starting on Friday, Feb. 19 against Southern Miss.
FOLLOW THE COLONELS
Follow Nicholls Athletics on social media on
Facebook,
Twitter, and
Instagram, and subscribe to the official YouTube channel (
Nicholls Athletics).
