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Nicholls State University baseball coach Seth Thibodeaux believes in creating a tough non-conference schedule for the Colonels each year, which builds up the team’s RPI and showcases how good the team is in front of premier programs.
The Colonels’ 2018 grind is as tough as ever and the Colonels will find out right away where they stand among some of the nation’s elites.
Thibodeaux released the team’s 2018 schedule this week – a challenging slate which features 26 home games and six contests against teams that made it to the NCAA Tournament.
“We have a great schedule in strength and balance,” Thibodeaux said. “It’s always a treat to host a great program and perennial regional team in Stony Brook to kick the season off. Back-to-back tournaments in the Whataburger Classic and the Cox Diamond Invitational will give us a regional feel. We will certainly have our hands full, but this group that we have right now will be ready.”
Right away, the Colonels will be tested.
The Colonels will begin the season on Feb. 16 with a three-game home series against Stony Brook, the 2012 College World Series participants.
From there, the Colonels will be tournament warriors, first competing in the Whataburger Classic in Corpus Christi from Feb. 23-25 and then in the Cox Diamond Invitational the following weekend.
In Corupus Christi, Nicholls will face the host team, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, as well as Mississippi State and UC-Santa Barbara.
At the Cox Diamond Invitational in Pensacola, the Colonels will battle Ohio State, Virginia Tech and Southern Miss.
In between the two tournaments, the Colonels will play a mid-week tilt at UL-Lafayette.
Southland Conference play starts the next weekend and the Colonels will be on the grind for the rest of the season.
Nicholls starts Southland play at home for a three-game series with Northwestern.
They wrap up the year at home, as well with a series versus Central Arkansas.
During the team’s bye weekend in conference, the Colonels will play a three-game series at Arizona (March 29-31). Before that series, the Colonels will play a one-game tilt with Mississippi State (March 27) at the Shrine on Airline. After it, they will travel to play LSU (April 3), before resuming league play.
“Our guys will play several opponents that will be in regionals and maybe even Omaha this year,” Thibodeaux said. “In order to compete the way we want, it takes the right collection of players. That is what we are working to develop this fall.”
The Colonels return most of their infield and several contributors on the mound in 2018.
This offseason, Thibodeaux said the upcoming team has a chance to be among the deepest in his tenure.
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