THIBODAUX, La. - Coming off a 31-win campaign, the Nicholls State University softball team gets its 2026 season underway this weekend in Alabama State's Stinger Classic.

Nicholls will take on Lindenwood (9 a.m.) and Murray State (11:15 a.m.) on Friday, Feb. 6 before wrapping up on Saturday against Alabama State (1:30 p.m.) and Southern Indiana (3:45 p.m.).

Admission for the tournament is $15 a day and $40 for the weekend. Games will be streamed on the Hornets Sports Network for a fee, while the matchup versus Alabama State will air on SWAC TV.

Under second-year head coach Ron Frost, the Colonels finished last season with a school-record .321 batting average, scoring 291 runs and racking up 86 doubles. The team went on a terror by winning 16 consecutive games and went on to finish third in the SLC standings. 

The Nicholls' lineup features two of the league's most decorated returners in Claire Sisco and Reagan Heflin, both named All-Southland after standout seasons. Sisco was one of the most complete offensive players in the SLC, finishing the year with a .425 batting average which was the third best mark in school history. The senior second baseman racked up 68 hits which included 19 doubles and five triples.

Heflin provided production in the middle of the lineup, batting .353 with 29 RBIs while striking out just eight times all season.  The senior outfielder totaled 13 multi-hit games with four three-hit outings and pieced together a 13-game hitting streak. 

Along with being All-Southland, both Heflin and Sisco were named all-defensive as well. 

Beyond the All-Southland duo, Coach Frost brings back significant depth at the plate. Erin Krause (.343, 41 RBIs) emerged as the primary run producer, while Laylin Sturm (.303) and Brynne Songy (.279) each totaled at least 40 hits. Sophomore Ally Mooneyham (.352) pieced together a strong rookie season with a .352 batting average

In the circle, Nicholls welcomes back the veteran duo of Averi Paden and Molly Yoo, each claiming 10 wins in 100-plus innings of work. As a unit, the Colonels held opponents to a .312 batting average and recorded five shutouts. 

Nicholls opened last season in the Stinger Classic and picked up a split. The Colonels swept both games against Alabama State and have won the last five in the series. The Red and Gray also took on Murray State twice last year at Ole Miss and split those games, 10-5 and 4-9. 

HOME OPENER
Nicholls will make its home debut on Feb. 25 against Southern Miss.