DUDLEY, Mass. (5/11/2025)- It was a pitching and defensive duel as the 2025 Conference of New England (CNE) championship was decided in walk off fashion in Dudley this morning. The Western New England University Golden Bears and Nichols College Bison met in an extra-inning thriller, with the Golden Bears taking the 1-0 win in eight innings.

Freshman Ava Barnhart delivered the game-winning hit for the Golden Bears — her third walk-off of the postseason — driving in the lone run with a two-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Nichols was anchored by senior pitcher Chelsea Indyk, who turned in a dominant performance in the circle. Indyk struck out eight, issued no walks, and allowed just one earned run over 7.2 innings.
 
The Bison managed two hits in the contest, one each from junior Ava Slavinsky and senior Chloe Steiniger.
 
Nichols ends its historic season with a program-record 32 wins. The program bids goodbye to graduating seniors Erin Gour, Chloe Steiniger, Emma West-Testo, Shelby Eason and Chelsea Indyk.  Meanwhile, WNE punches its ticket to the national tournament with the CNE's automatic bid.