MILTON, Mass. – The Curry College softball team earned a split with conference foe Nichols at D. Forbes Will Field on Thursday afternoon in a doubleheader. The Bison shut out the Colonels in the first game, 3-0 but Curry responded with a one run victory in extra innings on a walk off, 3-2 in the nightcap. Curry moves to 6-8 overall and 3-1 in the CCC while Nichols sits at 7-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
GAME ONE
The Bison scored all three of their runs in the fourth inning to capture the game by a final of 3-0. Nichols got on the board with Meghan Sears reached on an error by the Colonels shortstop Jess Saluti (Braintree, Mass.), which allowed Callie Andrews (Southbridge, Mass.) to score to make the game 1-0. The Bison tacked on another after Christina Drake (Lebanon, N.H.) hit a deep fly ball to left which drove in Kendall Meehan (Danvers, Mass.). Jessica Kuelling (Gales Ferry, Conn.) closed the scoring for the visitors in the frame with an RBI single to center field that drove in Zoe Chevrette (Wilbraham, Mass.).
Kasey Ayer (Niantic, Conn.) and Kuelling led the way for the Bison, registering a hit apiece. Sears, Drake and Kuelling recorded a single runs batted in each while Andrews, Meehan and Chevrette scored the runs for the Nichols.
Mikayla Lambert (Blackstone, Mass.), Rachel Byrd (Hampstead, N.H.), Michaela Colleran (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and Talia Forte (North Scituate, R.I.) each recorded one hit to close out the offensive output for Curry.
Alexis Ferris (Holyoke, Mass.) picked up the win in the circle for Nichols, tossing a complete game four hit shutout. She struck out 12 batters while walking just two.Lambert (Blackstone, Mass.) was credited with the loss, throwing a complete game while giving up three runs on two hits. She struck out three and walked two in the seven inning performance.
GAME TWO
Curry started the scoring in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a sacrifice fly from the bat of Jordan Lizotte (Rehoboth, Mass.). The fly ball was deep enough to send home Kevi Oatway (East Hartford, Conn.) to give the Colonels the early 1-0 advantage. Later in the frame, Saluti drove a ball to center which sent Byrd home to put Curry up two.
The Bison would strike back in the sixth when Sears stepped to the plate and launched a two-run homer to right field. The hit tied the game up.
The game would eventually head to extras where in the eighth, Byrd would score on a wild pitch to give the Colonels a split of the doubleheader with the 3-2 victory.
Marissa Bruno (Milford, Conn.) and Byrd led Curry with two hits apiece in the nightcap. Oatway, Colleran and Saluti each added a hit each to close the offensive output. Lizotte and Saluti recorded runs batted in while Oatway and Hanna Fleming (Clinton, Mass.) scored the runs for the home team.
Drake paced the Bison with a 2-for-4 day at the plate in game two. She also scored a run in the loss. Five other Nichols players recorded hits. Sears pitched in two RBI's while Drake and Sears scored the Bison runs.
Lizotte earns the win in the circle, tossing a complete game. She gave up two runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking three. Sears was given the loss as the senior went seven and two-thirds, surrendering three runs on seven hits. She struck out two and walked two in the defeat.
Curry returns to action on Sunday against conference opponent Gordon for a doubleheader at home beginning at 1:00 p.m. Nichols will next play Sunday at Roger Williams in a doubleheader starting at noon.
