Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – Junior Rebecca Palmarozza (Hamden, Conn.) drove in a pair of runs for the Nichols College softball team, which closed out the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic with a 3-2 loss to Hamilton and an 8-0 loss to North Central (IL).

Junior Emalee Watkins (Malden, Mass.) recorded two hits against the Continentals while sophomore Taylor Ferrazzi (Ashland, Mass.) surrendered seven hits and three runs in seven innings of work. She walked one and struck out two to fall to 1-4 on the season.

The Bison (2-8) trailed 3-0 heading into the seventh before hits by Watkins and sophomore Rachel Dalrymple (Belvidere, N.J.) put runners on second and third for Palmarozza, who drove a pitch up the middle into centerfield to plate both and make it 3-2. After sophomore Patricia Stacy (Pembroke, Mass.) walked to push the tying run into scoring position, the next two batters struck out to end the game.

Sophomores Ellie Kiernan (New York, N.Y.) and Talia Mercado (Somerville, Mass.) each had an RBI for the Continentals while junior Sam Miller (Willcox, Ariz.) went 3-for-4.

North Central freshman Andrea Starr (Elk Grove, Ill.) silenced the Bison bats in the second game to improve to 5-0 on the season. After walking Watkins to lead off the game, she sent down the next 18 hitters in a row – seven via strikeout. Offensively, freshman Olivia Goethals (Geneseo, Ill.) drove in three runs, highlighted by a two-run single in the fourth.

Junior Rebecca Waszczuk (Chester, N.J.) allowed eight hits and eight runs (three earned) with one walk and three strikeouts in five inning of work. The loss dropped her to 0-2 on the season.

Nichols departs 'The Sunshine State' Thursday morning and returns to action on Tuesday when it opens the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) slate with a doubleheader at Salve Regina. Hamilton continues play at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic Thursday with games against UNE and SUNY Brockport Wednesday while the Cardinals were set to face the University of New England Wednesday afternoon.