CLERMONT, Mass. (3/11/2026) – On their third day of competition in the Sunshine State, the Nichols softball team came up empty handed with a pair of losses to University of Mount Union, and familiar name Wesleyan University.
The Bison opened the day with a tough 8-0 loss through five innings to the Raiders, before battling the Cardinals to a closer 3-2 setback in the nightcap. With the losses, Nichols moves to 2-4 overall on the season.
Game #1: vs University of Mount Union
The Raiders wasted no time and jumped out to a large lead in the bottom of the first, plating four runs on three hits. Mount Union also worked around the bases with a pair of steals, and took advantage of an early Bison fielding error for the early advantage.
The Raider bats continued to deliver in the second inning, scoring two more runs with the bases loaded following three straight base hits to open the inning.
After Mount Union tacked on another pair of runs at the top of the fourth inning, Nichols made contact for their first hit of the contest; a base hit to left from senior infielder
Allie Silliman. However, that would be Nichols' lone hit against the Raiders, who ultimately held on the rest of the way for the 8-0 shutout.
In the circle, senior
Olivia Pedro (2-2) took the loss after 3.1 innings of work, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and two strikeouts. Sophomore
Alyssa Pericello also saw some time in the circle, pitching 1.2 innings of work.
Game #2: vs Wesleyan University
The Bison rebounded well in the second game of the afternoon, despite the eventual 3-2 loss. In the first inning, freshman Sidney Hicks turned on the jets and beat the throw to first on a grounder to the Wesleyan shortstop, only to then steal both second and third base, then score on a wild pitch for the first run of the game. Defensively, the Bison held Wesleyan scoreless through the bottom half of the first frame, but were unable to halt the tying run in the second inning off a sacrifice fly-out to center field with a runner on third.
After a scoreless third for both sides, Wesleyan pulled ahead with another sac-fly to right field, bringing home the lead runner from third to jump in front, 2-1. This lead to another lengthy scoreless stretch through the fifth and sixth innings, with both teams recording two hits apiece during.
Entering the top of the seventh, the Bison went to work loading the bases, beginning with a leadoff walk to
Sydney Manzione. Silliman promptly followed and laid down a bunt for an infield base hit, while
Kyla Felicani received her own free pass to first after getting hit by a stray pitch. With the bases loaded, and one out, another walk was awarded to pinch hitter
Michaela Fortier and delivered the tying run for Nichols, setting the stage for a showcase finish to the game.
Despite the final push, Nichols would fail to plate any more runs from there, while Wesleyan secured the game winner following a Bison throwing error with runners in scoring position.
Sydney Hicks joined
Alyssa Pericello as one of two Bison to go two-for-four at the plate against the Cardinals, with Nichols out-hitting their opponent 9-7 in total.
Molly Medor (0-2) delivered her second complete game in as many days, allowing three runs on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Softball will look to rebound with matchups against Regis College (1-5) and Swarthmore College (7-3) tomorrow morning, with game times set for 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM at Legends Way Ballfields in Clermont, Florida.
