FRISCO, Texas – Five members of the Nicholls State University baseball team were named to the 2026 Southland Conference All-Academic team as announced by the league office on Thursday afternoon.
 
Seniors Casey Artigues, Carter Jenkins, and Greyson Shafer along with juniors Caston Thompson and Dawson Richard were the five representatives.
 
Artigues held a 3.475 GPA while seeing action in 38 games with 35 starts as an outfielder. He posted a .206 batting average with 27 hits, including four doubles and one triple. Artigues scored 27 runs and produced 15 RBI and worked 15 walks. The Hammond, Louisiana native registered six sacrifice hits, and stole seven bases. He had seven extra base hits, including a 4-5 performance in a victory over SFA.
 
Jenkins held a 3.83 GPA while seeing action in 47 games with 46 starts at third base. The Branson, Missouri native posted a .281 batting average while recording 47 hits, including 13 doubles and three home runs. He scored 34 times and registered 28 RBI while producing 12 multi-hit games, including a 4-5 performance in a victory over SFA.
 
Shafer held a 3.675 GPA while seeing action in 50 games with 47 starts. The Boise, Idaho native was excellent at the plate this season as he posted a .290 average with 51 hits, including 13 doubles and 11 home runs. He has scored 35 times, and his 48 RBI, was tied for the most by a player in the SLC during the regular season. Shafer led the team in sacrifice flies (6) and stole two bases. He finished with 14 multi-hit games and was named SLC Hitter of the Week one time this season.
 
Thompson had a team-high 3.91 GPA as a Health Science major while seeing action in 50 games with 50 starts at first base. The Jayess, Mississippi native hit .306, with 56 hits, including 10 doubles and 14 home runs. He scored 39 times and generated 43 RBI. Thompson had 12 multi-hit games, including recording four twice. He tallied 36 walks to boast a .427 OB%. Thompson also earned SLC Hitter of the Week honors one time this season and his 14 home runs are the second most in a single season by a Colonel in program history.
 
Richard finished the semester with a 3.79 GPA. The Berwick, Louisiana native made 13 appearances, including nine starts on the mound and posted a 3-3 record. He finished the season with a 4.88 ERA while allowing 45 hits and 34 runs in 48 innings of action. He tallied with 41 strikeouts while posting a 1.54 WHIP and .251 opponent batting average after emerging as the third weekend starter. Richard went at least three innings in nine games, including going six frames in a contests against Lamar and Southeastern.
 
The All-Academic teams are voted on by head coaches, sports information directors, and academic/compliance staff members from each Southland Conference institution. Student-athletes must possess a 3.25 cumulative GPA, have completed one full academic year at the nominating institution to qualify for All-Academic selection, and have competed in at least 50 percent of their team's meets. Fifty percent of those nominated earn the honor.