THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team returns to Swanner Field this weekend to take on the UIW Cardinals in a three-game Southland Conference series, starting Friday (March 26) with a 5 p.m. doubleheader. Saturday's finale is scheduled for 11 a.m. 
 
The Colonels (6-11, 0-6 SLC) and Cardinals (4-14, 0-6 SLC) are both looking to claim their first league win of the season. Both squads were swept by Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin in the last two weekends. 
 
Nicholls has struggled in the six league games, posting a .191 batting average and a collective 7.60 ERA. Sophomore Kennedy Hebert has hit safely in four of the six outings and leads the team with a .353 batting average in conference. In the circle, Taryn Westbrook posts a team best 3.50 ERA and five strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work. 
 
Although UIW has lost all six conference games, the Cardinals are coming off a doubleheader sweep against Tarleton State on Tuesday. They shutout the Texans 1-0 and 6-0 in the two games.
 
UIW also has a sub-.200 batting average in league games at .154 and has one batter over .300 – Tori Lopez-Alvarez at .333. Annie Gunther has seen the most work for the pitching staff in Southland play, posting a 2.75 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.
 
Nicholls has a 10-2 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to 2014. The Colonels have won the last eight meetings vs. UIW but the teams did not play in the 2017 and '18 seasons.