FRANKLIN, Mass. – The Nichols softball team blanked non-conference opponent Dean in both legs of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon, taking game one 2-0 in extra innings, before winning game two 9-0 in six. With the pair of wins, the Bison improved to 17-16-1 (7-7 CCC), while Dean fell to 5-25-1 (2-12 GNAC).
 
Nichols will continue their Commonwealth Coast Conference schedule on Saturday, April 29 when they travel to Wenham, Mass. to take on Gordon in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.
 
Nichols 2, Dean 0
 
In a pitcher's duel in game one, both teams remained scoreless through the first seven innings. Bison starter Chelsea Indyk was dominant throughout, as she allowed just three baserunners through seven.
 
With a runner automatically placed on second to start extra innings, freshman Emily Iannuccilli reached first on a bunt single with one out and later stole second base to put two runners in scoring position. Freshman Ava Slavinsky came up with the big hit for the Bison, roping a double to left center to score two runs and give Nichols the lead. Two runs were more than enough for Indyk who got a strikeout and two pop-ups to set down the side in order in the bottom of the eighth and earn her second complete-game shutout in a row.
 
Indyk racked up a new career-high in strikeouts with 12, while only allowing three hits and one walk. Sophomore Erin Gour added two hits for the Bison in the win.
 
Nichols 9, Dean 0
 
After a scoreless first inning, Nichols got the bats going in the top of the second, using six hits, including a double by Emma West-Testo and a triple by Allie Brown, to push across four runs. The Bison kept the pressure on in the third, as Allie Silliman and Chloe Steiniger hit back-to-back doubles to start the inning, later scoring on a West-Testo base knock. West-Testo came around to score one two-batters later on a passed ball.
 
Starting pitcher Olivia Pedro cruised through the Bulldogs' lineup, only allowing one hit over the final three innings to keep Dean off the board. In the sixth, a walk by Brown followed by a ground-rule double by Gour set up second and third for the Bison. Shelby Eason came through with a base knock, picking up two-RBI to make it 9-0 Nichols. Pedro retired the side in the bottom of the sixth to give Nichols the win and push them over .500 for the first time this season.
 
Brown, Gour, Silliman, and West-Testo all collected multiple hits for the Bison, each adding an extra-base hit as well. Pedro tossed a complete game shutout to earn her eighth win of the season, allowing just four hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.