THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University softball team begins a seven-game home stand with a doubleheader against Ole Miss on Wednesday, March 13. First pitch on Swanner Field at GeoSurfaces Park is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Tickets for the game can be purchased online at NichollsTickets.com. The doubleheader versus Ole Miss is one of three dates that will require a ticket with the other being March 26 against LSU.

The matchup against the Rebels will be the first home meeting with an SEC program since the Colonels hosted LSU in 2014. 

Nicholls is coming off a three-game sweep at Northwestern State, helped by two shutout victories from Audrey McNeill. The senior was honored for the second time as Southland Pitcher of the Week after racking up 16 strikeouts while allowing just five hits.

McNeill leads the pitching staff with a 7-6 record, a 2.10 ERA and 41 strikeouts. Molly Yoo also picked up a win at NSU, upping her record to 4-3 on the season. Averi Paden chipped in with a three-out save to seal Yoo's victory.

At the plate, Riley Rutherford posted a .500 batting average with a double, a home run, and five RBIs in the series sweep over the Lady Demons. The big weekend increased her batting average to .370, trailing Molly VandenBout's .379 clip. The duo are part of six Colonels who have at least 10 RBIs.

Ole Miss sports a 16-7 overall record after falling in their SEC opening series against Mississippi State last weekend. The Rebels dropped the first two games before picking up an extra-inning win in the finale. 

The Colonels and Rebels last played in a tournament hosted by Troy in 2022 with Ole Miss earning a 10-2 run-rule victory. Nicholls also took on Ole Miss twice in '19 and were shut out in both meetings, 2-0 and 6-0.

ON DECK
Nicholls will host defending champion McNeese for a three-game series, starting with a doubleheader on Friday, March 15. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.