Nicholls State University baseball team opens its 2024 season with a home series at Ray Dider Field against the Sacred Heart University Pioneers.

Series Schedule:

Friday at 6 p.m.

Saturday at 6 p.m.

Sunday at 1 p.m.

Nicholls comes into the 2024 season after a Southland Conference championship season in 2023 while Sacred Heart is coming off of a Northeast Conference Championship Tournament semi-final appearance.

Sacred Heart went 16-22 in the first two-thirds of its season but improved with a 12-8 record in the final third.

After a post-season tournament run the NEC preseason poll picked the Pioneers to return to the conference tournament semi-finals at third in the standings.

The Pioneers are predicted to finish third in the NEC preseason poll and return to the conference tournament semi-finals.

Sacred Heart lost its two First Team All-NEC players and top batters in SS Sam Mongelli (draft), who won NEC Player of the Year, and OF Justin Jordan (graduation).

Sacred Heart saw less turnover on the mound, returning its top three pitchers in both innings pitched and strikeouts.

Leading pitcher in both Innings Pitched (81.1) and strikeouts (70), Jake Babuschack returns for his senior season after earning a Second Team All-NEC selection in 2023.

Nicholls’ Keys to the Series

Keep Emotions in Check

• Opening day/series is full of anxiety and excitement, so blocking out emotions and focusing on the game is important.

Pitching

• The PIoneerst had to replace some of their best batters and lack the experience they had at the plate last season

Outfield Play

• Nicholls lost two starting outfielders Xane Washington and Wes Toups. The new starting outfielders must fill the void as best they can