Bison escape with sweep in pair of one-run margins

DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols College softball team swept Salve Regina University in Saturday's Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) doubleheader at the Nichols Softball Field.
 
Game One – Nichols 7, Salve Regina 6
Senior Kasey Ayer and freshman Colleen Callahan each laced two-run singles in a five-run fifth inning as the Bison built a 7-0 lead and held on for the win.
 
Senior Kendall Meehan plated the first run of the game with a sac fly to center, followed later on in the frame by a suicide squeeze that doubled the lead. Ayer and Callahan's hits in the fifth pushed the lead to 6-2 before a fielders choice off the bat of Meehan plated senior Courtney Manarky with the seventh run of the game.
 
That was enough for freshman Jessica Soucie, who allowed three hits and two runs over five innings with four walks and one strikeout. The win was the first of her career. Classmate Shannon Morin recorded the final six outs.
 
Sophomore Maddie Machado smacked a three-run home run in the sixth for the Seahawks. Freshman Julia Coute gave up five runs (one earned) in 4.2 innings of work in defeat.  
 
Game Two – Nichols 3, Salve Regina 2
Nichols put up a crooked number in the first on an RBI triple to right off the bat of Meehan that scored Callahan and a fielding error. The Seahawks tied the game in the fourth on a two-run single by junior Holly Kathios.
 
In the sixth, the Bison loaded the bases and, with one out, Ayer legged out a dribbler in front of the catch that scored sophomore pinch runner Carlee Tolley. Sophomore Alexis Ferris slammed the door in the ninth to earn her ninth win of the season. She fanned 11 batters and did not walk a batter.
 
Freshman Andi Nelson gave up six hits and three runs (two earned) with one walk and 10 strikeouts. The loss dropped her to 8-4.
 
All-Time Series
Today's games marked the 64th and 65th all-time meetings between Nichols College and Salve Regina University. The Bison are now 27-37-1 lifetime against the Seahawks.