THIBODAUX, La. –The Nicholls State University baseball team will host Southland standings leading Lamar in a three-game series at Ray E. Didier Field on May 10-12.
Nicholls and Lamar sit atop the conference standings with the Cardinals holding a two-game advantage. Last week, the Colonels (30-18, 12-6 SLC) secured 30 wins for the second consecutive season with a series victory at UIW before falling to Houston on Tuesday night. Lamar (37-10, 14-4 SLC) is coming off a home series victory over Northwestern State and a road win at Rice on Wednesday night.
The Red & Gray offense has been clicking on all cylinders all season as unit ranks within the top 50 of multiple statistical categories. They have tallied 37th most hits (494) and averages the 30th most runs per game (8.5). Additionally, the Colonels boasts the 39th best batting average (.304) and has executed the most sacrifice flies in the country with 41. Nicholls ranks first in the SLC in those respective categories.
The potent Colonel offense features multiple players batting over .300.
Edgar Alvarez leads the way as he holds the nation's fourth-best batting average (.422), 13th most hits (76), 53rd most doubles (17), and his 42 free passes help him hold the 12th best on base percentage (.524). He has produced 59 RBI and has scored a team-high 61 times.
In the bullpen,
Nico Saltaformaggio earned his fourth victory of the season after allowing four hits, one run, and tallying eight strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work. He added three strikeouts in a midweek game against Southern to be named SLC Pitcher of the Week. After the productive week, he now ranks third in the SLC in earned runs allowed (23) and is one of eight pitchers in the league with a sub four earned run average (3.98).
Jacob Mayers (4.53) leads the SLC in strikeouts (81) and opposing batting average (.157).
Michael Quevedo (5.24) has five wins and ranks ninth in opposing batting average (.260) and has 57 strikeouts.
For Lamar, River Orsak (.341) and Zak Skinner (3.30) lead the Cardinals' offense with 61 and 58 hits respectively while combining for 83 RBIs. The Cardinals have been dominant on the mound as they post a league best 3.25 ERA. Brooks Caple (2.09) leads the unit with 81 strikeouts while posting a .173 opponents' batting average in a team-high 77.1 innings of work.
