HARTFORD, Conn. (4/20/24) – The Nichols College softball team dropped both sides of a doubleheader at the University of Hartford on Saturday afternoon, losing by scores of 4-0 and 6-5 (9 innings).

With the losses, Nichols falls to 17-13 (7-3) overall on the season. Hartford improves to 20-6-1 overall with the sweep.

Despite the Bison bats coming up empty in game one, game two helped a handful of Bison find the scoresheet. Sophomore Allie Silliman finished 4-for-7 (.571) at the plate with two runs, while senior Lilly Fangel and junior Erin Gour each collected two RBI.

Game #1

After a hitless first inning for both teams, Slavinsky came up with Nichols' first hit of the game in the top of the second inning. However, after retiring the next three Bison batters, the Hawks opened the scoring in the bottom half of the second with an RBI single through the left side.

The Bison saw another hit in the top of the third as Emily Iannuccilli layed down a bunt with nobody on, but the Nichols offense continued to sputter as no runs scored as a result. The Hawks then broke the game open in the bottom of the third, cashing in three runs on three hits to extend their lead to 4-0.

Throughout the remainder of the contest, Nichols would be limited to just two more hits with no runs scored, ending in a 4-0 loss.

Junior Chelsea Indyk (8-4) shouldered the loss for the Bison with four runs allowed on eight hits through six innings in the circle.

Game #2

This time around, Nichols was able to get on the board first in the top of the first. After reaching on a Hartford error, Slavinsky advanced to second before making it all the way home on an RBI double by Chloe Steiniger, putting the Bison in front 1-0. Nichols then retired the first six Hartford batters in consecutive fashion to maintain the one-run edge through the second inning.

However, Nichols couldn't hold the Hawks back a third time, as Hartford answered with three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead, with two of the runs scoring off Bison errors.

The Bison got back into the action with a run in the fourth inning following walks to both Silliman and freshman Sydney Manzione. To follow, Fangel drove in the lead runner with a single down the left field line, making it 3-2. Then, in the top of the fifth, two more runs crossed home plate on a dual-RBI double to the gap in right-center field by Gour, putting the Bison back in front, 4-3.

Play continued through a scoreless sixth, but Hartford returned in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 4-4 on a sac-bunt turned error by the Bison infield. As a result, the game would be decided in extra innings.

Both teams added runs in the eighth, with Nichols scoring off an RBI double to right center by Fangel. However, the Hawks would emerge victorious in the ninth as the winning run scored off a sac-fly out to center.

Softball resumes Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Sunday with a home doubleheader against Endicott College (18-7, 9-1 CCC) slated for a Noon first pitch.