DUDLEY, Mass. (5/7/2025) –The Nichols College softball team led for most of the game, but a three-run seventh inning lifted the No. 3-seeded Western New England University Golden Bears to a 4-3 comeback win over the Bison in CNE Tournament action. With the victory, the Golden Bears improved to 2-0 in the tournament and advance to the semifinals tomorrow at Endicott.

The Bison, meanwhile, will host a pod of elimination games tomorrow in Dudley as they continue their postseason push.

Nichols earned hosting rights with their No. 2 seed finish in the Commonwealth Northeast Conference regular season. Earlier in the day, Western New England edged No. 6 Wentworth 8-7 in a walk-off finish to earn the right to face the Bison in Game Two.

Nichols jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first. Chloe Steiniger's RBI single to right center brought home leadoff hitter Ava Slavinsky. Moments later, Bailey Littlefield followed with a single of her own, scoring Allie Silliman to make it 2-0 Bison.

The Bison tacked on another run in the fourth inning. Designated player Alyssa Pericello singled to right center, driving in Kyla Felicani to extend the lead to 3-0. Pericello was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double, but the run counted.

Western New England got on the board with a solo home run in the fifth inning. The turning point came in the top of the seventh, when a double to left cut the deficit to one. Two batters later, Ava Barnhart delivered a two-run single to put the Golden Bears ahead 4-3.

Nichols went down in order in the bottom of the seventh and couldn't mount a comeback.

Senior Chelsea Indyk got the start for Nichols, going six innings while allowing five hits and three runs. Freshman Molly Medor entered in relief in the seventh, striking out two but taking the loss to fall to 6-7 on the season.

The double-elimination format keeps Nichols alive. The Bison will face No. 5 Suffolk University tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Dudley, with both teams fighting to keep their seasons alive.