THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University softball team returns to the diamond this weekend with five games in the I-10 Border Classic, co-hosted by Lamar University and McNeese. 

The Colonels will play Lamar on Thursday night in Beaumont at 6 p.m., then Tulsa on Friday at 1 p.m. Nicholls will head to Lake Charles on Saturday for two games -- 1 p.m. vs. Missouri State and 3:30 p.m. vs McNeese. Sunday's finale will be back in Beaumont with a 10:30 a.m. contest against nationally-ranked Tennessee. 

Nicholls is coming off a 2-2 opening weekend which included a sweep of Alabama State. Preseason All-SLC honoree Riley Rutherford and Erin Krause led the offense with six hits and four runs scored. Claire Sisco also crossed the plate four times, doubled twice, and posted a four-hit weekend. 

Molly Yoo and Averi Paden each picked up wins in the circle. Yoo went the distance in her victory with one earned run and three strikeouts, while Paden tossed 4.0 innings and fanned two in the second win over Alabama State.

Lamar opened its season with a 3-1 record, falling only to No. 1 Texas. Tulsa went 3-2 in the Bearkat Classic with a loss to Texas as well.

Saturday's opponent Missouri State will be searching for its first win after dropping all five games in the Paradise Classic in Florida. McNeese posted a 3-2 mark in the Tarleton State Texas Classic.

No. 6 Tennessee lost its season opener in the NFCA Leadoff Classic to Nebraska but went on to win the next five by a combined score of 51-7. 

ON DECK
Nicholls will make its home debut next week on Wednesday, Feb. 19 with a 2 p.m. doubleheader against Alcorn State.