Willimantic, Conn. (4/3/2025) – The senior class led the way for the Bison as the Nichols Softball team split a doubleheader with the Eastern Connecticut State Warriors in non-conference action on Thursday afternoon. The Bison took game one by a score of 4-1 before dropping game two to the Warriors, 7-1.
With the split, the Bison now sit at 13-5 (1-1 CNE) on the season.
Game 1: Nichols 4, Eastern Connecticut 1
The Bison bats started early in game one as senior
Erin Gour hit her team-leading 10th double of the season to right field in her first at-bat, sending teammate
Riley Chartier home to put the Bison up 1-0.
Eastern responded with a solo home run in the second inning. In the third, Gour stepped up to the plate again, homering to regain the Bison lead. The home run was Gour's second of her senior campaign.
The only other runs of the game were scored in the seventh inning, as pinch hitter
Michaela Fortier hit a two-RBI single, allowing two Bison runners,
Allie Silliman and Chartier, to score and extend the lead to 4-1.
In the circle, senior
Chelsea Indyk reached a milestone, recording her 300th career strikeout in the outing. She struck out eight batters, allowing just three hits and one run in the win. Her complete game moved her to 8-2 on the season.
Game 2: Nichols 1, Eastern Connecticut 7
The Bison found themselves on the other side in game two, as the Warriors opened the scoring in the first inning. Their scoring remained steady, notching a run in every inning except the third.
The lone Bison run came in the seventh inning when designated player
Michaela Fortier grounded out to first base, allowing teammate
Erin Gour to score.
Highlights for the Bison in this game included senior right fielder
Emma West-Testo recording her first hit of the season, and senior
Shelby Eason making her first appearance of the season with a pinch-hit in the top of the seventh.
Molly Medor and
Ally McNamee split time in the circle for the Bison, with Medor taking the loss, dropping to 2-3 on the season.
Nichols have a quick turnaround, as they are set to host the University of New England tomorrow, Friday, April 4th in a CNE matchup. First pitch for the doubleheader is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in Dudley.