Box Score

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Freshman Christina Drake (Lebanon, N.H.) drove in two runs in Nichols College's 5-3 loss to Rutgers-Newark Wednesday morning in non-conference softball action at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic at the Lee County Sports Complex.

Junior Janine Coleman (Roslindale, Mass.) staked the Bison (3-6) to a 1-0 lead in the second when her RBI groundout brought home senior Emalee Watkins (Malden, Mass.). A Scarlet Raiders' solo home run in the fourth tied the game at one, and a Nichols fielding error in the fifth gave them a 2-1 lead.

Dake's two-run double in the bottom of the frame scored junior Avery Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) and sophomore Alexa Polverari (Branford, Conn.) and put the Bison ahead 3-2. Three Nichols errors in the sixth allowed the Scarlet Raiders (5-7) to score four runs and grab a 5-3 lead.

The Bison committed seven errors on the afternoon. Sophomore starting pitcher Haley Fountain (Warren, Mass.) surrendered seven hits and five runs, but only one was earned.

Nichols closes its trip south with a 1 p.m. contest against Wisconsin-Platteville.