DUDLEY, Mass. (3/25/2026) – The Nichols College softball team lost both ends of a non-conference doubleheader against Wellesley College on Wednesday afternoon at the Nichols Softball Field. The Bison came up empty in the opener, 2-0, before falling in a hard-fought 7-6 loss to the Blue in extra innings.

Nichols moves to 5-9 (1-1 CNE) overall, while Wellesley improves to 6-3 (0-0 NEWMAC). 

Game #1

The Blue bats delivered a pair of base hits in their first three at-bats to open the afternoon, one of which plated the game's opening run. From there, play continued through two scoreless frames, as Wellesley retired the Bison side of the first, second and third innings in order, all the while recording just one hit offensively.

The Blue added their second run in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a lead-off double to left-center field, followed by a Bison fielding error in the next at-bat. Now facing a 2-0 deficit, the Bison offense continued to struggle in the home half of the fourth and fifth innings, once again retiring in three up, three down fashion.

The Bison finally broke their silence and threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Sydney Manzione double to left and a Sydney Hicks walk, but failed to plate any runs before a ground-out to the Blue pitcher ended the inning. Nichols would leave one more runner stranded in the bottom of the seventh inning, resulting in the 2-0 setback.

Senior Olivia Pedro made a brief appearance in the first inning for the hosts, allowing one run on two hits, but was relieved by sophomore right-hander Alyssa Pericello (0-1) for the remainder of the game. Through 6.2 innings of work, Pericello allowed one run on four hits and recorded her first collegiate strikeout.

Game #2

A scoreless first inning translated to a shared 1-1 tie in the second, with Wellesley opening the scoring off a Bison throwing error from left field. Nichols countered in the home half of the inning, with Bailey Littlefield walking before an RBI double from Kyla Felicani brought her home, evening the score.

The Blue would notch the go-ahead run in the third inning for a 2-1 lead, but surrender three to the Bison in the bottom half. After a leadoff triple to right field from freshman Sydney Hicks, senior Ava Slavinsky laid down a bunt and reached on a fielder's choice, bringing in the tying run. Then, classmate Allie Silliman connected for a double to the same area of the Blue outfield, moving Slavinsky up to third with two runners now in scoring position for the hosts. Following a Wellesley pitching change, freshman Madison Scribner welcomed her to the circle with another double, this time to left field, plating both Slavinsky and Silliman for two RBI, and a 4-2 Bison lead.

After a defensive fourth inning, the Blue exploded with four more runs in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead, with the bulk of the runs scoring via a three-RBI double to right-center. The back-and-forth shift continued for Nichols with Felicani plating a run with an RBI single to third, making it a 6-5 ballgame in the sixth inning, while pinch hitter Michaela Fortier drove in the tying run in the bottom of the seventh with a ground-out to the Blue second baseman, forcing extra innings.

In the end, Wellesley secured the game-winning run in the top of the eighth, before holding Nichols off the board in the bottom half for the 7-6 win.

Sophomore Molly Medor (0-5) tossed 4.2 innings with six runs allowed on six hits, in addition to striking out five Wellesley batters, bringing her career total to 100 on the dot. Senior Ally McNamee also saw time in the circle, allowing no hits but walking three batters, as did Olivia Pedro who finished out the remaining three innings, allowing one run with five strikeouts.

Softball will look to rebound with a CNE doubleheader against Gordon College (6-8, 0-0 CNE) this Friday, March 28^th, with game times set for 2:30 and 4:30 PM at the Nichols Softball Field.