SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Nichols College softball team lost a The Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader at Western New England College Tuesday afternoon, falling 7-6 and 6-2. Sophomore pitcher Lindsay Hassett (Oxford, Mass.) struck out five in the first game and also knocked a two-run home run in the fifth to knot the score.

Nichols (5-11, 3-3 TCCC) took a one-run lead in the top of the second on a Savannah Thibault (Marlboro, Mass.) RBI single, and added two more in the next frame. Christina Hebert (Johnstown, R.I.) plated one when she reached on a fielder's choice, and Loren Rozanski (Plainville, Conn.) pushed another across with an RBI single.

WNEC took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the frame, collecting five runs on six hits and an error.

Hassett held the Golden Bears to two hits over the next two innings, and helped her effort with a two-run shot in the fifth to knot the score. In the top of the sixth, an RBI double from Valeri Calcagni (Rocky Hill, Conn.) gave Nichols a 6-5 advantage.

A two-out, two-run home run from WNEC's Sarah Lempicki in the top of the sixth, however, put the Golden Bears back on top, 7-6, and the home team retired Nichols in order in the seventh to hold on for the win.

Hassett (3-3) struck out five while scattering nine hits in six innings, allowing seven runs (six earned). Laura Bower improved to 3-2 on the season, allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits while striking out six.

WNEC held a 3-0 lead after two innings in the second game, picking up the third run on an RBI triple from Kate Post in the second frame.

Nichols got its two runs in the top of the third when Lauren Correia (Seekonk, Mass.) and Thibault came across on an error by the left fielder after a single from Lauren Lombardo (Wolcott, Conn.).

The Golden Bears added a run in the fifth and capitalized on three errors in the sixth for two more runs for the 6-2 final.

Rozanski and Thibault led the Bison at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 in the game.

Kara Buckley (Nashua, N.H.) took the loss, allowing six runs (two earned) on nine hits while striking out three. Vic Lospinuso earned the win allowing two runs (none earned) on seven hits.

Nichols returns to action Thursday in a TCCC doubleheader against Regis at 3 p.m.

Game One Box
Game Two Box