DUDLEY, Mass. — No. 6 Roger Williams University softball team saw its Conference of New England (CNE) Tournament run come to an end Thursday with a 4-2 loss to No. 2 Nichols in an elimination game at the Nichols Softball Complex.

Nichols (31-12, 12-6 CNE) scored in four of the first five innings to build a lead it would not relinquish, advancing in the bracket while sending the Hawks home. The Bison were led by a balanced offensive effort and a strong complete-game performance from pitcher Molly Medor (7-7), who scattered six hits and allowed two runs over seven innings.

A two-out RBI double by Allie Silliman in the top of the first inning gave the Bison a lead, but Shannon Starratt hit a home run in the bottom of the inning to tie it. Nichols added a run in the third when Chole Steiniger hit a single to right field to bring in Ava Slavinsky to take a 2-1 lead. In the fourth, Emma West-Testo added a sacrifice fly that brought in Bailey Littlefield, as the Bison took a two-run cushion. 

Steiniger and Erin Gour delivered back-to-back extra-base hits in the fifth to extend the Nichols lead to 4-1. Steiniger went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored, while Gour also doubled and drove in a run.

The Hawks attempted a rally in the sixth when catcher Ashley Klingberg singled home McKenzie Foley to cut the deficit to 4-2, but Medor retired the side in order in the seventh to secure the win.

Kiera Quadros (7-6) took the loss for RWU, allowing four runs on six hits over five innings. Ava Fairbanks pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

Starratt led the Hawks at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a double. Klingberg added two hits and an RBI.

With the loss, Roger Williams (24-18, 11-7 CNE) concludes the 2025 campaign, while Nichols advances in the CNE Tournament. The season saw the Hawks improve their record by a win, while posting the most wins in a regular season or conference campaign since the 2017 season.