HARTFORD, Conn. (4/8/2026) – The Nichols softball team took home a split decision in a non-conference doubleheader at Trinity College on Wednesday, beginning with a 2-1 win in the opener before dropping a high-scoring 10-8 decision to wrap up the day at the Trinity Softball Field.

Nichols moves to 11-13 (5-3 CNE) on the season, while Trinity shifts to 9-9 (2-4 NESCAC).

Game #1

Trinity opened the scoring in the introductory inning, capitalizing on a leadoff triple by Abby Alper and an RBI single from Katie Ruffer to take an early 1-0 lead. The Bantams threatened with three hits in the frame, but were limited to just the lone run.

The Bison answered in the third inning. Sydney Hicks sparked the rally with a base hit and stolen base before Ava Slavinsky delivered the equalizer, knocking a single into right field and advancing on an error to bring Hicks home and even the odds at 1-1. Nichols added some more in the fourth inning to pull in front for good, beginning with a Mary Jo-Laudati lead-off single before moving into scoring position on a sac bunt by Michaela Fortier. After a walk to Kyla Felicani, Riley Chartier came through with an RBI single up the middle, plating Jo-Laudati for the 2-1 advantage.

From there, the Bison defense  took control, powered by a solid performance from starting pitcher Molly Medor (3-7). The junior right-hander worked out of multiple situations, including a fifth inning in which Trinity had runners in scoring position. She finished the day allowing just one run on five hits while striking out eight Bantam batters over seven innings.

Game #2

It was Nichols' turn taking the early lead in the closer, plating three runs in the second inning. After walks to Chartier and Samantha Lombardi, Hicks picked her spot with an RBI double to right field to open the scoring. Slavinsky followed with a run-scoring groundout, while Bailey Littlefield added an RBI single to give Nichols a 3-0 edge.

Trinity responded in the bottom half, cutting the deficit to 3-2 on a two-run triple from Lizzie Nelson, and eventually pulled even in the third on a sacrifice fly.
Nichols regained the lead in the fourth when Hicks notched her second doubled of the game, and later scored on an RBI single by Slavinsky, making it 4-3. The Bantams answered again in the home-half of the inning, using another sacrifice fly and an RBI single to flip the lead in their favor, 5-4. The excitement continued with the Bison tying things in the fifth on an RBI single from Felicani, setting the stage for a massive sixth inning. Nichols erupted for three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run double from Allie Silliman and an RBI triple off the bat of Mary Jo-Laudati, making it 8-5 Bison.

However, Trinity delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the sixth. The Bantams scored five runs on six hits, including a two-run single from Katie Ruffer and RBI hits from Heather Roth and Makenna True, stunning the Bison with a new 10-8 lead entering the final frame.

Nichols threatened in the seventh with a pair of hits, but failed to break through the Trinity bullpen, ending in the 10-8 loss.

Olivia Pedro (8-5) took the loss in the circle, allowing 10 runs over 5.2 innings, while Medor recorded the final out of the sixth.

Softball is back home this upcoming Saturday, April 11^th for their senior day celebration against Johnson & Wales University (8-12, 2-6 CNE). Game times are set for 12:00 and 2:00 PM at the Nichols Softball Field.