THIBODAUX, La. – Head coach Seth Thibodeaux and the Nicholls State University baseball team announced an ambitious 2016 regular season schedule on Wednesday, featuring 29 games at Ray E. Didier Field, and 56 regular-season contests overall. The Dirty Red are set to open the year on Friday, Feb. 19, with a four-game home series against Mississippi Valley.
Nicholls reached several milestones and garnered national recognition in 2015. The Colonels went on a nine-game tear that was the program’s longest winning-streak since 2005. Nicholls swept its season series against Louisiana-Lafayette for the first time since 1996 and downed the No. 1 LSU tigers at Alex Box Stadium. The Colonels also turned in back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time since 1992-93. Nicholls’ 34 wins in the 2015 season were the most since 1992 when the Colonels totaled 36 victories. Nicholls sent four players to the Major Leagues in 2015, including LHP Grant Borne (Washington Nationals), LHP Stuart Holmes (Toronto Blue Jays), RHP Ryan Deemes (Houston Astros) and catcher Christian Correa (Houston Astros).
Despite the team’s recent success, the Colonels were eliminated early from the Southland Conference Tournament in both of the previous two seasons. The Nicholls squad channeled its disappointment into drive in the offseason, and is determined to take the next step in 2016. To help the program reach new heights, Thibodeaux has constructed a daunting schedule, with battles against a number of high-level opponents. The Colonels host LSU before traveling to Alabama, Mississippi State and Nebraska for a combined seven ballgames. Nicholls will also play its annual home-and-away series against both Tulane and Louisiana-Lafayette. The Colonels hope their difficult schedule will pay dividends against SLC competition, and ultimately result a deep postseason run.
“We are excited about the challenges our schedule presents,” Thibodeaux said. “The non-conference schedule will make us better. Our conference will be as strong as ever, and our goal is the be the best we can be, no matter the opponent.”
Following Nicholls’ four-game series with the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley, the Colonels head to Tuscaloosa for a date with the Crimson Tide on Feb. 24.
Nicholls will then have a quick turnaround as the team heads to Starkville, Miss. for a round-robin tournament, featuring UMass-Lowell and the Bulldogs of Mississippi State. The Colonels will face each team twice at the tournament, scheduled to run Feb. 26-28.
On March 2, Nicholls plays host to the Tigers of LSU. The contest will be the first of a nine-game home stand.
The Colonels open Southland play in Thibodaux against Abilene Christian (March 4-6). Nicholls will then face Sacred Heart in a three-game home series (March 10-12), before hosting the Green Wave (March 15) and Southern (March 16).
Next, the Colonels hit the road for a league series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (March 18-20), before a conference matchup against Sam Houston at The Did (March 24-26).
Nicholls will host the Ragin’ Cajuns (March 29), before traveling to Biloxi, Miss. for a battle against South Alabama (March 30). The Colonels will be the neutral-site home team at MGM Park in their battle against the Jaguars. The game will be a reunion of sorts, as Nicholls faces its former pitching coach, Chris Prothro, who joined the South Alabama staff after the 2015 season.
The Colonels then face Southeastern La. in an away-home-away series (April 1-3), before traveling to Beaumont, Texas for a two-game non-conference matchup with Lamar (April 5-6). Nicholls will face Incarnate Word in San Antonio (April 8-10), before seeing action closer to home as the team competes with Southern in Baton Rouge (April 13).
The Colonels host Central Arkansas (April 15-17), before a date with Louisiana-Lafayette on the road (April 19).
Don’t adjust your television April 22-24, as Nicholls heads to Lincoln for a three-game “Battle of the ‘N’ Logos” with Nebraska. The pair of universities, sporting similar logos and color schemes, is sure to prove a nightmare for the broadcasting crew.
Next, the Colonels host Alcorn State (April 27) and McNeese State (April 29-May 1), before traveling to Texas for a matchup against Houston Baptist (May 6-8). Nicholls will face Northwestern St. in a three-game home stand (May 13-15), before traveling to New Orleans to take on Tulane (May 17).
The Colonels will conclude the 2016 regular season with a three-game away-home-away series against New Orleans (March 19-21).
This year’s Southland Conference Tournament is set for May 25-28 in Sugar Land, Texas.
1 comment
They have done some wonderful renovations at Didier Field to help elevate them to the next level as well. They could be an up and coming program.
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