WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (3/12/2025)- As they returned to action at The Spring Games in Florida, the Nichols Softball team posted back-to-back shutouts with wins over Bowdoin (4-0) and The College of St. Scholastica (1-0).

With the doubleheader wins, the Bison improve to 4-2 (0-0 CNE) on the season and will return to action tomorrow for matchups with Regis (MA) and Swarthmore.

Game #1

In their early morning matchup with NESCAC powerhouse Bowdoin, the Bison relied on strong pitching from senior captain Chelsea Indyk and remarkable defence to shut out the Polar Bears' hitters, holding them to only four hits in the game.

The Bison found their game-winning run in the third inning with junior Allie Silliman at the plate and the bases loaded. Silliman got on base as a result of the Polar Bear's defence electing to tag senior Chloe Steiniger out at second, but that wouldn't stop the speedy Ava Slavinsky from rushing home to earn the Bison run.

Defence would be the story of the game as it took until the 7th inning for the Bison to gain some insurance by way of three runs. The first insurance marker came from pinch-runner freshman Sarah Dupre, who scored from an Emily Iannuccilli base hit. After that, the bats were firing for the Bison as Steiniger SAC flied to allow Slavinsky to score from third base. The final run of the game came from an Erin Gour single as Iannuccilli completed her trip around the bases and completed the 4-0 Bison win.

Indyk remained fantastic through the game striking out 9 batters on the day. The win was the Bison's first-ever victory against the Polar Bears.

Game #2
With a quick turnaround to game two, the Bison continued their defensive poise. Against a tough Saints team out of Minnesota, the Bison turned to freshman pitching/catcher combo Molly Medor and Alyssa Pericello to get the job done. They would be up to the task, securing the 1-0 victory.

The only run of the game came in the 2nd inning as Alyssa Pericello singled to center field sending teammate Allie Silliman home, earning the run for the Bison.

In the first all-time meeting between the two programs, the Bison allowed just 5 hits.

Medor struck out 10 batters en route to her second career win. 

In her first appearance this season, Emma West-Testo was fantastic in the outfield, making 3 catches to put out the Saints batters. She and the rest of the Bison proved solid against the Saints offense push.