THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University softball team begins its 2024 campaign with the first of six games over a four-day stretch, heading to Baton Rouge to take on the nationally-ranked LSU Tigers on Thursday, Feb. 8. First pitch inside Tiger Park is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Following the matchup with LSU, the Colonels head to Youngsville for the annual Mardi Gras Mambo. Nicholls is set to play Green Bay and North Dakota on Friday, Providence College and UT-Arlington on Saturday, and Montana on Sunday.
The Colonels will play LSU twice this season, welcoming the Tigers on March 26 to complete a home-and-home. Nicholls will be looking to knock off LSU for just the second time in the series history, with the lone Colonel win coming in 1998.
Head coach
Justin Lewis, who is entering his third season, welcomes back 17 letterwinners, seven starters in the lineup, and both primary pitchers from last year's 29-win squad. Led by All-Southland First Team selections
Alexa Poche' and
Erin Krause, the Colonels were voted to repeat a third-place finish in the Southland Preseason Poll.
The All-SLC tandem were not only the top hitters for the Colonels last year, but both finished ranked in the top 5 of the Southland in batting average. Krause had a phenomenal rookie campaign where she batted .363 with 30 RBIs. Poche' finished with a .342 average and belted five home runs while driving in 40.
The Colonels will also have
Samantha Gwiazda back in the lineup after she missed the second-half of the season with an injury. The Colonel shortstop hit .288 and wreaked havoc on the base paths, going a perfect 18 of 18 in stolen bases. As a team, Nicholls swiped 119 bases and was only caught 18 times.
Claire Sisco led the team with 24 steals while Krause and
Abby Andersen added 15.
In the circle,
Audrey McNeill and
Molly Yoo both put together breakout debut seasons. McNeill shined in her first year with the Colonels after transferring in from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi while Yoo was a freshman. Both hurlers won 13 games and three shutouts, with McNeill posting a team best 2.40 ERA and 100 strikeouts. Yoo had a solid 2.73 ERA and tossed 10 complete games.
LSU is coming off a 42-win season and an appearance in the NCAA Regionals. The Tigers welcome back 18 letterwinners and six All-SEC honorees.
The matchup will stream on SEC Network+.
