SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (May 1, 2021) – The Western New England University softball team swept Nichols 5-3 and 8-3 on Saturday afternoon at Golden Bear Softball Park in the CCC Pod A final to advance to the CCC Championship.

Game 1: Western New England 5, Nichols 3
The Golden Bears combined for 10 hits, including a home run from sophomore Kailey Carrano, triples from sophomores Lexie Hemstock and Paige Baca, and a double from sophomore Cori Rizzo. Senior Paige Uliase pitched a complete game, allowing only six hits and had eight strikeouts.

Allie Brown hit a triple for the Bison.

After going down 1-0, the Golden Bears answered in the bottom of the first to tie the game after junior Dina DiBlasio hit an RBI single up the middle. Western New England extended the lead in the bottom of the second inning after senior Emily Cooney hit an RBI single, followed by the triple from Hemstock and the double from Rizzo. Carrano capped off the scoring for the Golden Bears when she hit a solo home run to right center field.

Game 2: Western New England 8, Nichols 3
The Golden Bears combined for 10 hits again as first-year Madison Mason hit a home run and then Hemstock, Carrano, and first-year Kaleigh Blades each hit doubles. Sophomore Megan Beebe and first-year Kayli Rosenkrans combined for eight strikeouts. 

Lilly Fangel went 3-for-4 for the Bison while Samantha Kostek chipped in two hits.

The Golden Bears jumped out to an early 2-0 after RBI's from DiBlasio and Carrano. After the Bison took a 3-2 lead, Hemstock hit an RBI double to center field in the second to tie the game. Western New England took the lead back in the top of the fourth after RBI's from Blades an DiBlasio. In the top of the sixth, Mason hit a three-run home run to make it 8-3.

Up Next
Western New England (16-6) will face Endicott in the CCC Championship on Saturday May 8. Times and location will be announced during the week.