Softball Swept by Nichols

DUDLEY, Mass. – Junior Emalee Watkins (Malden, Mass.) hit an inside-the-park home run and drove in five runs in Nichols College's doubleheader sweep of Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) rival Wentworth Saturday afternoon at the Nichols Softball Complex. The Bison won game one, 13-1, in five innings before posting a 13-5 win (5 inn.) in the nightcap.
 
Junior Avery Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) recorded three hits and four RBI while sophomore Janine Coleman (Roslindale, Mass.) and freshman Jordan D'Aurio (Northford, Conn.) each drove in three runs for the Bison, who picked up their first two conference wins of the season and improved to 4-14 (2-4 CCC). In the circle, freshman Danielle White (Boston, Mass.) earned her first collegiate victory in game one, allowing one hit and an unearned run while striking out eight.
 
The Bison scored seven runs in the first inning of game one, highlighted by a pair of two-run singles from Orszulak and junior Rebecca Palmarozza (Hamden, Conn.). The Leopards got one back in the second before Nichols put up a '3' spot in the third to move in front 10-1. Watkins laced an RBI double before Orszulak stole home. Nichols tacked on three more in the fourth behind RBI singles from Watkins and Orszulak.
 
Wentworth opened the scoring in game two with an RBI single off the bat of junior Paige Mochi (Cambridge, Mass.). The Bison answered five runs in their half of the first behind an RBI fielder's choice from Orszulak, an RBI double by D'Aurio, and a two-run single from sophomore Caitlyn O'Loughlin (Waterford, Conn.).
 
An RBI single from sophomore Devinn Doherty (Bridgewater, Mass.) in the second brought the Leopards to within three at 5-2 before Nichols scored four in its half of the frame and three more in the third to grab a 12-3 lead. Coleman's three-run triple sparked the Nichols offense in the third, and Watkins home run to right in the fourth brought in junior Amanda Broughton (Plymouth, Mass.). Sophomore Molly Melanson (Simsbury, Conn.) recorded her first collegiate hit and RBI in the fourth.
 
Sophomore Taylor Ferrazzi (Ashland, Mass.) picked up the win in game two for Nichols, allowing five hits and five runs (three earned) with three walks and seven strikeouts in five innings of work. Wentworth sophomore Anna Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) and freshman Kate Lee (Spruce Head, Maine) combined to allow 21 hits and 25 runs (20 earned) with 11 walks in eight innings of work.
 
Nichols hits the road on Sunday for a CCC doubleheader at Roger Williams at 4 p.m. The Leopards host Western New England tomorrow at 1 p.m.

(Recap Courtesy of Nichols Sports Information)