DUDLEY, Mass. (4/21/24) – The Nichols College softball team was swept in a Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon by Endicott College, falling 7-0 in game one and 4-1 in game two at the Nichols Softball Field.

Nichols drops to 17-15 (7-5 CCC) overall on the season, while Endicott improves to 20-7 (11-1 CCC).

Senior Lilly Fangel and junior Chloe Steiniger paced the offense on Sunday, as Steiniger went 2-of-7 (.286) at the plate with the team's sole RBI, while Fangel went 2-of-6 (.333) on the afternoon.

Game #1

Endicott did the bulk of its damage in the first and second innings. With runners at the corners in the top of the first, the Gulls opened the scoring with a two-RBI single into left field, giving them the early 2-0 edge. Following a leadoff triple to start the second inning, the Gulls would tack on three more on a two-run homer to left-center, and a double steal which snuck the lead runner home to boost their lead to 5-0.

Nichols would be the only team to record a hit through the next three innings, which belonged to freshman Kyla Felicani in the third inning on a base hit to center. However, the Bison couldn't gain any traction off the singular hit, while Endicott returned for two more runs in the top of the sixth to up their lead to 7-0, eventually winning the game by that score.

Junior Chelsea Indyk (8-5) took the loss after just 1.0 inning in the start. Freshman Cassidy Machado entered in the second inning and threw for the remaining 6.0 innings with three runs allowed on three hits, striking out two.

Game #2

Endicott repeated as the first team to score in game two, bringing in the game's first run on an RBI single down the right field line. The Bison threatened in the home half of the inning, as sophomore Ava Slavinsky reached on an error before advancing to second on a sac-bunt by Felicani. In the next at bat, Steiniger then moved Slavinsky ahead to third with a base hit to left, before stealing second to put a pair in scoring position with two outs. However, the Gulls were able to secure the third out to escape the inning unscathed.

Play continued through scoreless second, third and fourth innings before Endicott pulled away with three runs in the top of the fifth. The first scored off a passed ball from third, while the remaining two snuck home on a two-RBI double to left field, making it a 4-0 game.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Bison scratched a run across to cut Endicott's lead down to 4-1, spoiling their second shutout bid. To start out, Emily Iannuccilli reached on an Endicott fielding error, only to then advance to second on a passed ball, and third on a sac-fly to center by Slavinsky. Shortly thereafter, Steiniger brought her home with a single up the middle, ending the drought for the Bison.

Endicott would go on to win the contest 4-1 after forcing the Bison to lead two runners stranded in the bottom of the sixth.

Sophomore starter Olivia Pedro (5-7) worked through all 7.0 innings but shouldered the loss after allowing two earned runs on six Endicott hits, along with two walks and a strikeout.

Nichols will next head out to face UMass-Boston (20-8, 6-4 LEC) for a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday, April 25^th at 3:00 and 5:00 PM.