Erin Krause and Gabby Higbee celebrate after a big play for Nicholls softball
Jailen Leach

Softball

Colonels Head to Lake Charles for Bracket Play, Game Times Adjusted

THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State Univeristy softball team will make the trek to Lake Charles for bracket play in the Southland Conference Tournament, appearing as the No. 3 seed for the fourth consecutive year. It marks the 18th tournament appearance in program history.

Due to weather in the area, game times have been adjusted. Nicholls and Northwestern State will play on Thursday at 2 p.m. following the opening game between McNeese and Stephen F. Austin. For an updated bracket, visiting the Southland Softball Championship page.

For the second straight year, the tournament splits the eight-team field into two brackets. No. 1 Southeastern will host one side while Nicholls will head to Lake Charles as No. 2 McNeese will host the other. The winners of the double-elimination brackets will advance to the championship best-of-three series next weekend for the SLC title.

Nicholls has went 2-2 in the postseason in its last three appearances. The Colonels dropped the opener last year in Hammond, La., falling to No. 6 SFA, 7-4. Nicholls bounced back with a 4-0 win over No. 7 HCU in the elimination game, then trounced SFA in 11-1 in five innings. But the season came to an end in the championship matchup with Southeastern as the Colonels fell 4-3.

Nicholls is making its fourth all-time appearance in the tournament as a No. 3  seed -- all coming in the last four years.

Southeastern secured the No. 1 seed after claiming its first regular season title in school history, snapping a four-year streak by McNeese. The No. 2 seed was up for grabs in the final weekend and McNeese earned as sweep to claim the spot. Nicholls tied with UIW at third but was awarded the No. 3 seed after winning the season series. Lamar finished a game behind for No. 5 and was followed by No. 6 Northwestern State, No. 7 SFA, and No. 8 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Nicholls has a combined 7-2 record against the Lake Charles Bracket. At home, the Colonels swept McNeese and took the series against SFA, and won the series on the road at NSU to wrap up the regular season.  

The Colonels dominated Northwestern State in the first two games, winning 6-0 before sweeping the doubleheader with 15-6 run-rule victory. But in the finale, the Demons rallied in the sixth inning to spoil the Colonels' chance at hosting, avoiding the series sweep with a 5-3 victory. 

All games will stream on ESPN+.