Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FORT MYERS, Fla. (Mar. 12) – The Nichols College softball team split its opening day at the Gene Cusic Classic, rallying past Newbury College, 6-3, in the opener before falling, 2-0, in a defensive battle against Heidelberg University.

In the first game, Nichols stole five bases and rattled off 12 hits, holding the Nighthawks scoreless after a tumultuous first inning that saw Newbury send three runners across on two hits and two errors. The Bison settled down after that, backed by six strikeouts from senior Kara Buckley. First-year first baseman Jenna Priore was 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in her collegiate debut, plating the go-ahead run in a three-run fifth inning for Nichols.

In the nightcap, Heidelberg's leadoff batter came across to give the Berg a 1-0 lead after one, but Nichols did not allow another hit until the fourth inning, led by senior pitcher Lindsay Hassett. Offensively, however, the Bison struggled to put anyone on the bases, with one hit and two runners through six innings until first-year outfielder Allasyn Lieneck drew the first walk of the game and stole second. Heidelberg had runners in scoring position in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but the Bison worked out of it, thanks in part to six strikeouts from Hassett in the game. In the top of the seventh, however, the Berg plated one more on three hits.

Nichols continues its Florida swing Sunday with two games, facing Mass. College of Liberal Arts at 9 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. contest against Saint Mary's College (Ind.), both at the Cape Coral Complex.

Newbury Box Score

Heidelberg Box Score