SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (4/23/2026) – The Nichols College softball team traveled to Western New England on Thursday afternoon for a CNE doubleheader, splitting the two games against the Golden Bears. Nichols claimed game one, 2-1, before falling in the finale, 6-0.
With the split, the Bison move to 13-19 (7-9 CNE) on the season, while the Golden Bears shift to 16-15 (10-4 CNE).
Between the two games, two Bison players made both program and personal history. First, senior infielder Ava Slavinsky became the program's all-time leader in career hits, while classmate Allie Silliman surpassed 1,000 career putouts.
Game #1
Western New England struck first in the bottom of the second, using a walk, sacrifice bunt and an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. However, Nichols later broke through in the fifth inning when Sydney Hicks sparked the rally with a base hit and a stolen base, before Bailey Littlefield delivered the tying run with an RBI single to right, evening the odds at 1-1.
The Bison took the lead for good in the sixth. Ava Slavinsky led off with a single, and after a fielder's choice and a groundout moved a runner into scoring position, Sydney Manzione came through with a clutch RBI double to left, plating Slavinsky to give Nichols a 2-1 advantage.
After surrendering the game's first run back in the second inning, sophomore starting pitcher Molly Medor (5-10) handled the rest from there. Despite a pair of baserunners in the sixth aided by defensive miscues, she worked out of trouble and then retired the side in order in the seventh to seal the win. Medor limiting the Golden Bears to just three hits across seven innings while striking out seven in the complete-game victory.
Game #2
The Golden Bears struck early, capitalizing on an error and a wild pitch in the opening frame to jump in front, 1-0. Despite early traffic on the bases for Nichols, the Bison were unable to push a run across against Western New England starter Kaylin Heffern.
Nichols threatened in the second, benefiting from a pair of defensive miscues and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases, but the rally came up empty as Heffern worked out of the jam.
The game remained a one-run contest until the fifth inning, when Western New England broke it open. The Golden Bears strung together six hits in the frame, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Angelees Carrasquillo and RBI knocks from Olivia Lugo, Riley Kane, and Katelyn Bailey, to extend the lead to 6-0.
The Bison managed four hits in the game, with Slavinsky, Littlefield, Manzione and Michaela Fortier each making contact. Nichols pieced together a late push in the seventh, loading the bases with one out, but was unable to break through.
Olivia Pedro (8-8) took the loss in the circle, allowing six runs on nine hits over six innings of work, along with one strikeout.
Softball is back on the road for another conference twin bill at Roger Williams University (17-11, 9-5 CNE) on Sunday, April 26th. Game times are set for 12:00 and 2:00 PM at Paolino Field.
