THIBODAUX, La. - Following a successful weekend at the Mardi Gras Mambo, the Nicholls State University softball team will head to Alabama to partake in Troy University's Trojan Invitational, starting Friday, Feb. 20.

Nicholls (6-3) will open up against Kennesaw State at 11:00 a.m. before taking on host Troy later Friday night at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Colonels have an early 8:30 a.m. matchup with Furman before wrapping up against Omaha at 1:30 p.m.

Friday night's contest against Troy will air on ESPN+.

The Colonels won four out of five games over the weekend and carry a three-game winning streak into the invitational. Nicholls split Friday's action with a run-rule win over Eastern Illinois followed by a 4-0 loss to St. Thomas, but finished off the Mardi Gras Mambo with wins over Georgia State, New Mexico, and SIUE.

Pitching was stellar all weekend as the staff had a collective 1.40 ERA, led by Molly Yoo who was named Southland Pitcher of the Week. In her three appearances, Yoo was 3-0 with a 0.82 ERA, totaling 13 strikeouts in 17.0 innings of work. She pitched two complete games including a shutout in the 1-0 victory over Georgia State. Averi Paden also tossed a complete game, fanning a career-high eight batters in the 6-1 win over New Mexico.

At the plate, Erin Krause had a memorable weekend as she batted .467 with six RBIs, ending the tournament with a walk-off two-run home run in the eighth inning against SIUE. She leads the team on the season with a .414 batting average and is tied with Claire Sisco (.375 BA) with a team-high 12 hits. Laylin Sturm has seven hits and her .389 batting average is helped by nine walks and three hit-by-pitches. 

Kennesaw State brings a 2-6 record and is coming off a 4-3 win over Miami Ohio last weekend in the Carolina Classic. 

Troy has won its last six games and is 9-1 on the season. The last time Nicholls took on the Trojans was in a tournament hosted by Troy in 2022 and the Colonels fell short, 10-9 and 8-0 (5 inn.).

For Saturday's opponents, Furman is 1-8 on the season while Omaha is undefeated at 9-0. The Mavs are ranked No. 1 in D1Softball's Mid-Major Top 25 while Troy comes in a No. 20.

UP NEXT
Nicholls will make its home debut on Wednesday, Feb. 25 against Southern Miss. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.