CLERMONT, Fla. (3/8/2026) – The Nichols College softball program ended up with split decisions on opening day in central Florida on Sunday, first defeating Haverford College in walk-off fashion, 10-9, before falling to Westminster College (Pa.), 8-0 (6 Inn.).

The Bison kick of the spring at 1-1 overall.

Game #1: vs Haverford College

The Bison kicked off their new campaign in style with a 10-9 walk-off win over Haverford University, delivered off the bat of sophomore infielder Samantha Lombardi.

The Bison looked a little rusty out of the gate, but quickly shook it off and rallied from an early 4-0 deficit in the bottom of the second inning. With the bases loaded, Kyla Felicani delivered the first run with a five-pitch walk, followed by two-RBI double to right-center by Riley Chartier in the next at-bat. The streak continued from there, as Emily Iannuccilli reached on a fielders choice, in-turn scoring Felicani from third to tie the game at 4-4. For the go-ahead run, Michaela Fortier drove a base hit into shallow left field, allowing enough time for Chartier to come home.

For some insurance, Nichols notched another pair of runs in the fifth inning, beginning with freshman Peyton Blackinton on a Haverford wild pitch. The second chalked up a third RBI for Chartier, as her single down the left field line scored Bailey Littlefield, putting the Bison up 7-4.

Haverford struck back in the sixth with two runs to make it 7-6, but the Bison remained one step ahead of the competition in the bottom half of the frame off an RBI single to left center field by junior Sydney Manzione, setting the stage for an entertaining seventh inning.

Nichols encountered some trouble in the top half of the seventh, with the Fords plating three unanswered runs to suddenly flip the lead in their favor, 9-8. However, Nichols rose to the challenge in the bottom of the seventh, with freshman Sydney Hicks finding the right-center field gap for an RBI triple, scoring Iannuccilli on the play to tie the score, 9-9. In the next at bat, Lombardi made her way to the plate as a pinch hitter, and played the hero with her first collegiate RBI on an infield single, plating the game-winning run.

Manzione was a standout performer offensively for the Bison, going 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI. Chartier was 2-for-4 in the game, scoring three RBI, while Hicks delivered one RBI on one hit and two walks.

In the circle, sophomore Molly Medor went the distance against the Fords, tossing 5.2 innings with six strikeouts. Sophomore Alyssa Pericello made her debut in the circle, and split relief duties with senior Ally McNamee. Senior Olivia Pedro (1-0) returned to action late in the seventh, and picked up the win in just 0.1 innings of work. 

Game #2: vs Westminster College (Pa.)

The Bison faced a tougher challenge in the opening day closer, with opponent Westminster College (Pa.) taking the win through six innings, 8-0.

Westminster got things started with one run scored in the first inning of play, before later tacking on another pair in the bottom half of the third, holding the Bison without a hit throughout. Facing a 3-0 deficit in the top of the fourth, the Bison finally landed their first hit of the contest off the bat of Bailey Littlefield, who then advanced to second base thanks to a misplay by the Westminster catcher. However, the run would be left stranded, sending the Bison into the bottom half still trailing by three.

To close out the day, Westminster plated two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, and then another three in the sixth to wrap things up early.

Olivia Pedro (1-1) took the loss, but surpassed 100 career strikeouts in the full six inning effort, completing the game with five in total.

Softball is back in action tomorrow with an 11:30 AM tilt with Hood College (0-6), followed by a 1:30 game against Lake Forest College (1-1) at Hancock Park.