Softball Splits with Nichols

BOSTON, Mass. – On a frigid Monday afternoon, the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team (24-8, 10-4 CCC) split a pair of games with the Nichols Bison (15-16-1, 7-7 CCC). The Bison grabbed a 4-0 victory in the opener thanks to a pitching clinic while the Leopards earned a 6-2 victory in the second game with a offensive outburst in the opening inning.

GAME ONE: NICHOLS 4, WENTWORTH 0

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• It was a battle of the pitchers to start the contest, as sophomore Chelsea Indyk (Easthampton, Mass.) of Nichols and senior Erin Hancock (Holden, Mass.) of Wentworth were nearly flawless in the circle through four innings of play.
• The Bison opened the game open in the fifth inning, as, with the bases loaded, sophomore Erin Gour (Westfield, Mass.) was walked, bringing home a score to put the Bison ahead 1-0. On the following at-bat, a single to the outfield by freshman Bailey Littlefield (Saco, Maine) ran home two scores, extending the Bison's lead to 3-0.
• In the sixth inning, a single by freshman Riley Chartier (Johnson, R.I.) ran home another score, marking the Bison's advantage at 4-0. Indyk shut down the Leopards' offense for the remainder of the contest, giving the visitors a 4-0 conference win.
• In the circle, Hancock's hot start earned her seven strikeouts while surrendering seven hits. Offensively, the Leopards earned a triple on the opening at-bat of the game from senior Kaitlin Pettenger (Budd Lake, N.J.) as she led two other student-athletes who recorded a hit on the afternoon.

GAME TWO: WENTWORTH 6, NICHOLS 2

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth's scoring splurge took place in the early going of the nightcap as a single by graduate student Alexandra Pina (Cumberland, R.I.) with the first two batters on base brought home a score by Pettenger, giving the hosts an initial 1-0 edge. Following, a single by senior Julia Bollentin (South Kingstown, R.I.) brought in a score by graduate student Briana Beverly (Pawcatuck, Conn.), marking a 2-0 lead.
• On the next at-bat, freshman Kyla Igawa (Long Beach, Calif.) reached first on an error, while the same error brought home scores by Pina and Bollentin, extending the Leopards' lead to 4-0. A double by sophomore Jess Rowe (Yardley, Pa.) with Igawa on base later raised the host's lead to 5-0 as Igawa ran home on the hit.
• In the fourth inning, a single by Pina with Pettenger already on base brought home Pettenger, stretching Wentworth's lead to 6-0.
• With two runners on for the Bison in the sixth inning, a Littlefield single brought home a score, cutting Nichols' deficit to five at a 6-1 score. Later in the inning, a single by junior Lily Fangel (Natick, Mass.) ran home another score, cutting the Bison's deficit to 6-2. However, freshman Julie Schriver (Moscow, Pa.) stuck it to the Bison's bats in the later going, shutting the opposition down for a 6-2 Wentworth victory.
• Offensively, Pina led the way, going 3-3 with 2 RBI, while Pettenger followed by going 2-4. In the circle, Schriver struck out four en route to her conference-leading twelfth win of her rookie campaign.

SERIES NOTES:

• The Leopards have won two of the last three and five of the last eight against the Bison.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth visits Lasell for a non-conference, two-game slate Thursday.

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