DUDLEY, Mass. (4/29/2026) – The 2026 season has officially come to a close for the Nichols softball program, who earned a well-deserved split against the CNE's top squad Endicott College on Wednesday afternoon at the Nichols Softball Field. The Bison fell in the first contest, 8-2, before rebounding with a 5-2 victory to cap off the campaign.
Nichols finishes with a 16-22 (9-11 CNE) overall record.
Game #1
Endicott was quick on the attack, plating two runs in the top of the first behind RBI hits from Maddie Beeley and Ella Tower. The visitors added another in the third on a run-scoring groundout, extending the advantage to 3-0.
Nichols broke through in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a bases-loaded opportunity.
Sydney Manzione drew an RBI walk to bring home
Bailey Littlefield and cut the deficit to 3-1. The Bison then continued to chip away in the fifth, as
Ava Slavinsky delivered a bunt single that scored
Sydney Hicks, trimming the lead to 4-2.
Despite the momentum shift, Endicott responded with a decisive seventh inning. The Gulls erupted for four runs on five hits, highlighted by a two-run double from Elyse Saccoccio and an RBI double by Catherine Seay, pushing the lead to 8-2 and putting the game out of reach.
Olivia Pedro (9-10) went the distance in the circle for Nichols, allowing eight runs on 12 hits with two strikeouts.
Game #2
Nichols struck the first blow in the opening inning, as
Sydney Hicks doubled to lead off the frame and later scored on an RBI groundout from
Bailey Littlefield. Then, Nichols extended its advantage in the second frame, plating two runs highlighted by an RBI double from
Sydney Manzione and an unearned run following a fielding miscue to put the hosts in front 3-0.
Nichols added to the lead in the fourth, stringing together three hits, including an RBI single from
Emily Iannuccilli that pushed the margin to 4-0. However, Endicott eventually found their way through the Bison defense in the sixth inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues to score two unearned runs and cut the deficit to 4-2. Nichols answered right back in the bottom half, as
Madison Scribner came around to score on an error to restore a three-run cushion at 5-2, which proved enough for the win.
Offensively, Hicks led the way with two hits and a run scored, while Manzione and Iannuccilli each drove in a run. Scribner scored twice for the Bison in the win.
Molly Medor (7-11) was outstanding in the circle, tossing a complete game while allowing just two runs, both unearned and on five hits, while striking out nine.
