FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Nichols College softball team defeated Pitt-Bradford 7-4 and lost to Edgewood 9-8 in extra innings at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic Tuesday morning at the CenturyLink Sports Complex.

VIDEO: Meehan RBI vs Edgewood / Monaco single vs Edgewood / Barrows steals third, scores vs Edgewood

In the opener against the Panthers, the Bison (3-5) opened up a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-run single from junior Christina Barrows (Carver, Mass.). The Panthers (3-7) responded with three in the third to take a 3-2 lead before Nichols put up a crooked number in the fifth and sixth innings to move in front 7-3.

Sophomore Kendall Meehan (Danvers, Mass.) laced a ground rule double down the left field line in the fifth to plate two and put the Bison back in front, 4-3. In the sixth, junior Samantha DiReda (Shrewsbury, Mass.) recorded an RBI single, freshman Callie Andrews (Southbridge, Mass.) had an RBI groundout, and Meehan singled in her third run of the afternoon.

Meehan came on in relief in the fourth and earned the win, allowing six hits and one run over four innings to earn her third win of the season. She finished 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI while Barrows was 1-1- with two RBI, two walks, and two runs scored.

Nichols trailed the Eagles 6-0 entering the bottom of the fifth before scoring seven runs over the next two frames to take a 7-6 lead to the seventh. Junior Christina Drake (Lebanon, N.H.) and sophomores Kasey Ayer (Niantic, Conn.) and Sara Monaco (Glen Cove, N.Y.) all drew bases loaded walks in the fifth to cut the deficit in half at 6-3.

In the sixth, two runs scored on fielder's choice plays to bring the score to 6-5. Ayer then singled up the middle to plate Drake and tie the game at six, and junior Jade Palladino (Lynnfield, Mass.) drew a two-out, bases loaded walk to put Nichols in front 7-6. Edgewood (6-8) responded with two in the top of the seventh to regain the lead at 7-6, but Barrows was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the inning and later scored the tying run on a throwing error. The Eagles went on to score one in the eighth and hold on for the win.

Meehan was tagged with the loss in the nightcap, allowing 10 hits and four runs (two earned) in relief. Barrows finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored while both Meehan and DiReda were 2-for-4.

Nichols closes play at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic on Wednesday with games against Kenyon (9:00 a.m.) and Augsburg (11:00 a.m.).