DUDLEY, Mass. – UMass Boston Softball freshman outfielder Sofie Richland's hitting streak continued on Thursday afternoon as Richland record a hit in both games during the Beacons' road doubleheader against Nichols College, extending the streak to 14 straight games. In that final non-conference doubleheader of the regular season, UMass Boston fell to the Bison, 2-1 in game one and then 10-1 in game two which went five innings.
 
THE BASICS
 
UMass Boston 1, Nichols College 2
UMass Boston 1, Nichols College 10 (5 Innings)
 
UMass Boston (19-18)
Nichols College (21-18-1)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: UMass Boston 1, Nichols College 2
Junior pitcher Emily Doble and sophomore pitcher Chelsea Indyk would battle in game one of the doubleheader after Doble shook off a first-inning run allowed on an RBI single by freshman catcher Bailey Littlefield which put Nichols in front 1-0. On the other side, Indyk would allow two runners to reach base from UMass Boston with two outs in the second before escaping the frame. The same would be the case in the third in which the Beacons stranded runners on first and second with one out after Indyk came back to strike out the next two batters.

After Indyk worked a clean fourth and fifth for the Bison, she would get an insurance run from her team in the bottom of the fifth after an RBI fielder's choice by freshman infielder Ava Slavinsky plated the second run of the game. However, UMass Boston would not go down quietly, putting runners on first and second with one out in the sixth inning. Following Indyk retiring freshman infielder Lauren Miner for the second out, junior infielder Lauryn Bethea would record an RBI single in which sophomore utility player Amauri English would be thrown out at home to end the inning as the Beacons pulled within one, 2-1, with an inning left to play.

Senior first baseman Jordan Toomey reached base to lead off the seventh on an error by Indyk on the mound and sophomore outfielder Mackenzie Cahill would push her over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Looking to stretch it and get to third, Toomey was thrown out doing so, giving the Beacons two outs before Indyk retired sophomore catcher Kaitlyn Sawyer to end the game.

Game 2: UMass Boston 1, Nichols College 10 (5 Innings)
The Beacons would take the lead first in game two after an RBI single by English put them ahead 1-0, but seven first-inning runs for Nichols ended up being the difference maker. A fielding error allowed the tying run to score in Slavinsky's at-bat before the big blow came from sophomore infielder Chloe Steiniger whose bases clearing double made it a 4-1 ballgame.

Following Steniger's hit, an RBI single from freshman infielder Allie Silliman and two-run double by freshman outfielder Brianna Sulikowski capped off the seven-run frame for the Bison. Steiniger and Silliman would add the Nichols lead in the second with Steniger's second double in as many innings followed by Silliman's sacrifice fly which pushed the Bison lead to eight runs, 9-1.

Freshman pitcher Olivia Pedro held the UMass Boston bats in check after allowing that first inning run, giving up just the one run on three hits while striking out two and walking one as the Bison earned the doubleheader sweep with a five-inning, 10-1 victory, in game two.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Sofie Richland extended her hit streak to 14 games after notching a hit in both games of the doubleheader  
• In game one, Emily Doble went six innings allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out three and walking two
• Lauren Miner made an appearance in the circle for UMass Boston in a relief capacity during game two, going two innings and allowing one run (unearned) on one hit while striking out three and walking one
• In the all-time series, UMass Boston is now 0-4 against Nichols College

 
WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston closes out their regular season with a big Little East Conference doubleheader against Rhode Island College for Senior Day on Saturday starting at 1:00 PM. The senior day ceremony will be held at the end of game two. The Beacons are currently being chased by WestConn and Plymouth State for the final two LEC Tournament playoff spots alongside the Anchorwomen who sit just ahead of UMass Boston, heading into the weekend.