Head coach Angel Santiago takes his most experienced squad into the 2016 season, returning eight starters and three starting pitchers from last year.

The Colonels enter this season on the heels of posting their first winning record since 2010. Despite tying their previous high mark in conference wins the past five years with 12, Nicholls narrowly missed qualifying for the Southland Conference tournament last season.

“What I like about this team is that the younger players can get a good look at why we have turn this program around,” Santiago said. “The talent is there, the recruiting has worked and we just have to believe now more than ever.”

The Colonels saw resurgence in offensive production last season, finishing the season second in team batting average, fourth in hits, fourth in on-base percentage, fifth in runs scored and sixth in runs batted in. Nicholls relied on a strong offense last season when starting pitcher Jackie Johnson missed most of the middle of the season with an injury.

“Hitting in our lineup is a humbling experience,” Moriah Strother, catcher/first baseman, said. “The talent on this team keeps us accountable and makes us want to take extra steps to stay in the order.”

Last season, utility players Brooke Morris and Payton Gremillion paced the Colonel offense finishing in the top 12 in the conference in batting average on their way to earning second-team and third-team All-Southland Conference honors respectively. Outfielder Jessica Taylor was also honored as the conference Newcomer of the Year, hitting .321 with 42 hits in 44 games while striking out only 19 times.

In his time on campus, Santiago had a Southland Freshman of the Year, a Nicholls Freshman of the Year and a SLC Newcomer of the Year, but this year he has arguably his most impactful crop of freshman. Breaking into the veteran lineup, and currently leading the team in hits and tied for the lead in doubles, is Amanda “Red” Gianelloni. Also, Megan Landry already has four complete games in as many starts and a shutout under her belt as a Colonel.

“Red is all about the game and all about this team. She just wants to win and has brought that attitude with her,” Santiago said. “She’s done it with humbleness and has hit in the three whole driving in runs. She’s great support for [Alexis] Huss to look at right she goes to the plate.”

Despite being new to the program, Landry is not new to pitching in big games. Playing for the elite travel softball club Murucci Patriots, Landry pitched her team to National Runner Up at the 2015 Amateur Softball Association Gold Tournament.

“The key is to keep these type of players coming, instead of getting one in now, we need to get a full classes,” Santiago said. “It’s a long season and I think we still have some hidden gems on the bench that are going to start coming through.”

The Colonels have one more weekend of tournament play and a midweek game before heading to Nacogdoches, Texas, to open conference play against Stephen F. Austin. Nicholls will look to snap their current three game-losing streak against the University of Tennessee at Martin before double-headers against Houston Baptist University and the University of North Texas at the Mean Green Spring Fling in Denton, Texas.

“I love this team and I love how they do things,” Santiago said. “We’re still growing and I’m hoping our seniors pass the torch the right way,” Santiago said.