DUDLEY, Mass. – The Roger Williams University Softball team had its four-game winning streak snapped as Nichols College defeated the Hawks in a TCCC doubleheader by the scores 9-1 and 5-4.

 

In the first game, Shaleese Young (Salt Lake, Utah) gave the Bison a 1-0 lead in the first, coming around to score on a 6-3 double play. Nichols' most productive inning came in the second, as four runs came in to score off of four hits and an error. Tracy Cullity (Manchester, N.H.) and Lauren Lombardo (Wolcott, Conn.) both crossed the plate in the third to add to the Bison lead.

 

The Hawks finally got its first run of the game in the fourth, when Callie Nealon (Hopkinton, Mass.) scored on an RBI single by Kerry Burke (Old Saybrook, Conn.). That would be the only run scored for the Hawks, as the Bison added two more in the bottom half of the inning, en route to the win.

 

Alexandra Sera (Newton, Mass.) took the loss, giving up five runs (three earned) in two innings of work. Stephanie Collins (Burlington, Mass.) came on in relief, getting touched for four runs (two earned). Nichols' Lauren Pearson (Vernon, Conn.) picked up her eighth win of the year. allowing only one run in four innings.

 

The Bison scored first again in the second game, as Christina Palmerino (Southbridge, Mass.) came in on a Hawk error at short. Michelle Caprice (Oak Ridge, N.J.) knocked in Burke in the third to knot the game at one apiece, but Nichols answered with a three-run bottom half, capped off by a two-run home run by Lombardo.

 

Nichols held the three-run lead throughout the rest of the game until the bottom of the seventh. LeEllen Lewis (Brunswick, Md.) began the Hawk rally with an RBI single to score Jen Lyford (Raynham, Mass.). Lewis and Caprice would take advantage on a misplay at short to tie the game at four at send the game into extra innings.

 

The Hawks were able to get their extra runner to third with one out but could not bring in the go-ahead run. In the Bison's at-bat, their inning would last only one batter, as an error by the pitcher allowed Kayla Hebert (Johnston, R.I.) to score the game-winning run.

Andrea Gregory (Toms River, N.J.) took the loss, allowing all five runs in 7+ innings while walking two and striking out five. Person came on in relief of Lindsey Hasset (Oxford, Mass.) (7 IP, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K) for the win, becoming Nichols' all-time winningest pitcher in softball history with her 43^rd career win.

 

Roger Williams (16-18, 10-8 TCCC) will travel down the road for a TCCC doubleheader against Salve Regina University Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. Nichols (22-11, 17-3 TCCC) will host Curry tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.