BOSTON, Mass. – Paced by sophomore Chelsea Correia's (Seekonk, Mass.) 5-for-7, 10-RBI performance, the Nichols College softball team scored 22 runs on 28 hits as the Bison swept a The Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader from Wentworth. Nichols took the first game, 11-0, and completed the sweep with an 11-3 triumph in the nightcap.
The Bison got a pair of runs in their first at bat of the day, as Correia plated sophomore Samantha Hardigan (Brockton, Mass.) with an RBI groundout and sophomore Kylie Langton (Medford, Mass.) delivered an RBI single. An inning later, Nichols doubled its lead on a two-run single off the bat of Correia.
In the third inning, Nichols scored four times, with Hardigan and Correia providing RBI singles in the process before rounding out the scoring in the fifth inning on an RBI double from Hardigan and a two-run home run from Correia.
That was all junior Lindsay Hassett (Oxford, Mass.) would need as she hurled a three-hit shutout, walking just two and striking out eight to improve to 3-7. Offensively Correia was 3-for-4 with six RBI and sophomore Savannah Thibeault (Marlborough, Mass.) was 3-for-4. Hardigan and junior Shannon Weeks (Greenfield, Mass.) each had a pair of hits.
Senior Caylee Johanson (Windsor, Conn.) took the loss, allowing 11 runs (five earned) and striking out two. She also had one of the Leopards' three hits.
The Bison picked up where they left off to open the nightcap, scoring a pair of unearned runs before Wentworth broke its scoring drought with two of its own in the home half of the inning. Back-to-back doubles from juniors Lizz Harvey (McConnellsburg, Pa.) and Bridget Souza made it a 2-1 game before Johanson drove home Souza with a game-tying single.
Nichols used a two-run third inning to take a 4-2 lead, thanks in part to an RBI double from Correia, and broke the game open with a five-run fourth inning, with the big blow coming off the bat of Correia who cleared the bases with a three-run double.
After Wentworth trimmed the lead to 9-3 in the fifth on an RBI double from Harvey, The Bison got two additional runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run blast to center off the bat of junior Amber Cottrell (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.).
Sophomore Molly Ferraro (Millis, Mass.) improved to 5-7 on the year, as she allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out four. Cottrell was 3-for-4 with two RBI, while sophomore Lauren Correia (Seekonk, Mass.) also had three hits. Chelsea Correia was 2-for-4 with four RBI.
Sophomore Michele Harrington (New Paltz, N.Y.) took the loss for the Leopards, as she fell to 0-3. Harvey had two of Wentworth's seven hits.
With the wins, the Bison improve to 13-19 overall and even their record at 9-9 in TCCC play. Nichols hosts Roger Williams tomorrow afternoon. Wentworth falls to 11-20 (4-14) and is at New England College on Wednesday.
