Nichols Takes Two from Softball in Conference Twinbill

DUDLEY, Mass. –  The Bison of Nichols College took two Commonwealth Coast Conference games from the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team on Saturday afternoon in Dudley, Mass.

Wentworth dips to 7-10 overall and 1-3 in the CCC, while Nichols jumps above .500 at 7-6-1 and open its conference schedule at 2-0.

Game One: Nichols 2, Wentworth 1 (8 inn.)

Junior Cara Mayhew staked the Bison to a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI double, then singled down the right field line in the eighth to give the Bison a win in extras. The Leopards tied the game in the sixth on a sac fly off the bat of sophomore Kayla DeMedeiros (South Dartmouth, Mass.), who also started in the circle and allowed two runs (one earned) to cross on nine hits in 7.1 innings of work. Junior Alexis Ferris scattered three hits over eight to earn her fourth win of the season, and walked five with six K's.

Wentworth's three hits came off the bats of freshman Alexandra Pina (Cumberland, R.I.), sophomore Brionna Myers (Seabrook, N.H.) and freshman Briana Beverly (Pawcatuck, Conn.). Pina hit for extra bases in the top of the sixth innings with her third double of the season.

Game Two: Nichols 9, Wentworth 4

Mayhew and classmate Katrina Valeri each drove in two as the Bison pulled away in the second inning behind RBI hits from Mayhew, Valeri, sophomore Colleen Callahan, and freshman Mackenzie Bourgault. Nichols finished the contest with 12 hits to support freshman starter Candice Nelson, who allowed 10 hits and four runs over seven to move to 3-1 on the season.

Myers went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and swung into her first double of her sophomore season with an RBI and a run scored. Freshman Katie Verreault (Scarborough, Maine) and Pina also hit for extra bases with a double apiece, joining classmate Ceilidh Higgins (Medway, Mass.) with a 2-for-4 outing. Higgins drove in two runs for Wentworth in the effort.

Freshman Aurora Wilks (Fruitport, Mich.) suffered the loss with six earned runs in 2.0 innings of work. Verreault pitched 4.0 innings of relief and allowed three earned runs to cross.

Wentworth is scheduled to play Western New England tomorrow afternoon at Sweeney Field.

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