DUDLEY, Mass. (4/1/2026) - It was a tale of two very different outcomes for Nichols College softball on wednesday, as the Bison bounced back from a lopsided 13-0 run-rule loss in their non-conference doubleheader opener to Eastern Connecticut State, salvaging a split with a rain-shortened 7-3 victory in the closer.
Nichols shifts to 8-12 (3-3) overall on the season, while Eastern moves to 10-6 (2-0 LEC).
Game #1
Eastern Connecticut wasted little time setting the tone, as starting pitcher and lead-off batter Elizabeth Mitchell kicked things off with a solo home run to give the visitors an immediate 1-0 edge. The Warriors continued to apply pressure in the second inning, highlighted by another solo homer from Sam Healy, and RBI hits to the left and right-center field gaps sto extend the lead to 4-0.
The Bison struggled to generate offense against Mitchell in the circle, as the right-hander allowed just one hit while striking out eight over five dominant innings. Nichols' lone hit came off the bat of senior infielder
Allie Silliman in the fifth inning, but the Bison were unable to capitalize.
Eastern Connecticut added single runs in the third and fourth innings to make it 6-0, before the game broke open in the fifth, when the Warriors plated seven more runs on six hits. A bases-loaded walk and RBI single pushed the lead to 9-0, moments before Hadley Marchand delivered the decisive blow—a grand slam to center field—to cap the scoring at 13-0.
Sophomore
Molly Medor (1-7) took the loss for Nichols, allowing six runs over three innings, while classmate
Alyssa Pericello and senior
Ally McNamee combined to cover the final two frames.
Game #2
Eastern struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on a stolen base sequence and a ground-ball double play to plate a run, but Nichols answered immediately as
Sydney Hicks led off the bottom half with a solo home run to center field, evening the score at 1-1.
After a scoreless second, the Bison seized control in the third inning.
Ava Slavinsky ignited the rally with a single before
Bailey Littlefield reached on a walk.
Allie Silliman followed with a base hit to load the bases, and
Mary Jo-Laudati delivered an RBI single to give Nichols its first lead.
Kyla Felicani and
Madison Scribner each drove in runs, and
Riley Chartier capped the five-hit inning with an RBI single as the Bison surged ahead 5-1.
The Warriors trimmed the deficit in the fourth, using a two-run double from Reagan Lalor to make it 5-3, but Nichols pitcher
Olivia Pedro limited further damage and closed the door from there.
Nichols added insurance in the fifth inning, taking advantage of a throwing error and patient at-bats. Silliman reached and advanced into scoring position before Laudati's bunt single and a stolen base set the stage. A wild pitch brought home one run, and Chartier drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead to 7-3 before the game was finalized due to rain.
Silliman paced the Bison offense with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, while Laudati added two hits and an RBI. Chartier finished with two RBI, and Hicks' leadoff home run set the tone early as Nichols totaled 10 hits in the win.
Pedro (7-4) scattered five hits over five innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out three to secure the win.
