AUBURNDALE, FLA. – The Nichols softball team picked up their first two wins of the season on Tuesday morning, defeating Smith 6-2 before taking down Ripon 2-1. With the victories, the Bison improved to 2-4 (0-0 CCC) in the young season and gave Caitlin Hitchcock her first win as the squad's newest head coach.
 
Nichols 6, Smith 2
 
After a 1-2-3 first inning by Nichols starting pitcher Chelsea Indyk, Allie Brown got the bats going with a leadoff double for the Bison. Smith was able to retire the next to batters, but Allie Silliman came up with a two-out single to score Brown and give the Bison the early 1-0 lead. In the third, Nichols put the pressure on by being patient at the plate, working four walks in the inning. The Bison plated four runs in the inning, all coming with two outs to extend the lead to 6-0.
 
Indyk was dominant on the mound, not allowing a hit until conceding a two-out double in the fifth inning. Smith pushed two runs across on a single in the top of the sixth inning, but the threat ended as the runner was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Indyk slammed the door in the seventh, giving the Bison their first win of the season.
 
Junior Mackenzie Jackson collected two hits and a walk in the win, while Silliman found herself on base three times, picking up one hit, two walks, and two RBI. Indyk threw a complete game, giving up four hits, surrendering two runs, and racking up nine strikeouts to tie her career high.
 
Nichols 2, Ripon 1
 
Nichols, the away team in the second game of the day vs Ripon, got two baserunners on in the top of the first inning but failed to capitalize. Ripon used back-to-back singles and a fielders choice to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Brianna Sulikowski led off the third inning for the Bison with a base knock. Following a sacrifice bunt by Brown, Emily Iannuccilli singled up the middle, advancing Sulikowski to third. On the next pitch, Ianuccilli attempted to steal second and Sulikowski took off from home as the throw came in too late and Nichols evened the score.
 
Over the next three innings, Nichols starting pitcher Olivia Pedro retired nine Ripon batters in a row to keep the score knotted at one. The Bison came to the plate in the top of the seventh looking to take the lead and record the final three outs. After the leadoff batter was retired, Ianuccilli singled up the middle, followed by another single by Bailey Littlefield. Silliman stepped up to the plate with a runner in scoring position, ripping a ball into the left-center gap, and bouncing over the fence for a ground rule double. Ianuccilli scored to give Nichols their first lead of the game. Ripon was able to get out of the jam to keep the score at 2-1, but they were set down in order in the bottom of the seventh as Nichols secured their second win of the day.
 
Iannuccilli, Littlefield, and Sulikowski each picked up two hits for the Bison, while Pedro went seven complete innings, giving up only three hits and striking out three.
 
Nichols seeks to remain in the win column on Thursday in a doubleheader against Hood and Rutgers-Camden at DiamondPlex in Winter Haven. Fla. Game number one is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., while game two is expected to start at 4:30 p.m.