University of South Alabama Athletics

– EASTON/NFCA ALL-AMERICA SCHOLAR ATHLETE (2018)
– SUN BELT CONFERENCE COMMISSIONER'S LIST (2018)
– SUN BELT CONFERENCE CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK (5/2/17)
– SUN BELT CONFERENCE ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL (2016)

AT SOUTH ALABAMA
JUNIOR SEASON (2019)    
Played in 41 games, starting 17 … Had seven hits, including one double … Scored 14 runs while driving in three … Also walked four times … Was a perfect 4-for-4 in her stolen base attempts … Recorded 40 putouts playing center field … Drove in a run and scored a run during the opening weekend of the season against Tennessee State (2/9) at the Sand Dollar Classic … Scored a run in five straight appearances (4/12 - 4/20) going a combined 5-for-10 at the plate during that stretch … Was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate in game one of a doubleheader at Georgia State (4/13) while scoring a run … Had a triple, drove in two and scored once in game one of the Sun Belt series at ULM (4/19).

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2018)    
One of three South Alabama players to start all 56 games during the season, with all her starts coming in center field … Batted .235 with 28 hits and 21 runs scored … Also walked 13 times and was hit by pitch three times … Was 4-for-5 in her stolen base attempts … Was second on the club with six sacrifice hits … Threw out first runner at the plate in game two of the season against Providence (2/10) at the Friends of Jaclyn Invitational in Winter Springs, Fla. … Scored season- and career-best three runs in a road win at Southern Mississippi (3/7) … Posted five multi-hit games during the season with three of those coming in consecutive games – game two against Georgia State (3/24), the Sun Belt series finale versus the Panthers (3/25) and at McNeese State (3/28) – going 6-for11 with three runs scored in those three contests … Drove in lone run of the season in game one against ULM (4/13) with a RBI-triple against the Warhawks … Also had multiple-hit games at Troy (4/18) and in game two of the SBC series against Appalachian State (4/21), scoring a run in each of those games … Walked and scored twice in game one of a conference doubleheader against Troy (5/6) … Named to the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner’s List … Selected as a Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete.

REDSHIRT-FRESHMAN SEASON (2017)    
Started 42 of the 48 games in which she competed … Saw time at all three outfield positions, making 25 starts in right, 14 starts in left and one start in center … Batted .339 (41-for-121) which was second-best on the team … Scored 21 runs and drove in seven … Was 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts … Got off to a great start as she batted .514 with 18 hits and seven runs scored in her first 13 starts … Her 11 multi-hit games were third-most on the club … Recorded a team-high nine sacrifice hits … Had an eight-game hitting streak during the season (2/15-25) where she was 11-for-21 (.524) during that stretch with six multi-hit outings … Named both the South Alabama Invitational and Mardi Gras Invitational all-tournament teams … Selected the Sun Belt Conference Co-Player of the Week (2/28) after leading the club with a .636 batting average (7-for-11) with three runs scored, two RBI, a .909 slugging percentage in her four games for the week … Also had a double and a triple and didn’t strike out in any of her 12 plate appearances … Recorded three 2-for-3 performances at the plate in each of South’s first three games of the South Alabama Invitational … After scoring two runs in the Jags’ 7-0 win over Texas A&M – Corpus Christi (2/24) she came up huge in USA’s sweep the following day … In the first game of the day against Middle Tennessee (2/25), Nichols scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth as the red-shirt freshman came home on a mishandled throw at second and beat the throw home to score the eventual game-winner … In the nightcap against Stephen F. Austin, Nichols made a huge play both in the field and at the plate … In the top of the third with USA facing a two-out jam with two Ladyjacks on base, Nichols tracked down a liner in the left-center gap to end the threat and in the bottom half of the inning, she came through at the plate as she delivered a two-out, two-run triple that dropped just inside the left field line to break a scoreless tie, which would prove to be the eventual game winners …  One of four Jaguars selected to compete on one of two collegiate softball stars teams on the Alabama Stars roster at the Auburn site against the USA National Softball team during the summer following her junior season.  

FRESHMAN SEASON (2016)    
Redshirted as a true freshman … Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll selection.

AT HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL    
Lettered five seasons in softball at Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala. … Was a two-time all-state selection (2015 and 2013) by the Alabama Sports Writers Association … Led Hoover (Ala.) High School to 2014 regional runner-up finish and regional championships and a state runner-up finish in 2011 … Ended prep career as the Buccaneers’ career stolen base leader, while ranking among the top 10 in eight other categories … Named 2013 Birmingham News All-South/Hoover Region Player of the Year as a sophomore … Played club for New Jersey Intensity KOD Premier in Farmingdale, N.J., in 2014-15, leading the team to a top-three finish at So-Cal Select 13 … Also recruited by North Carolina, Samford, Southern Mississippi and UAB.

PERSONAL    
Mary Catherine Elizabeth Nichols … Born in Selma, Ala. … Daughter of David and Suzie Nichols … Has one younger sister, Caroline “Pepper”, who is a member of the Jaguar roster … Father played baseball at Marion Military Institute … Favorite movie is “Rocky” … Lists favorite book as “To Kill a Mockingbird” … Favorite pro sports teams are the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees … Favorite pro athletes are Derek Jeter and Jac Pederson … Lists favorite musical artists as The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Oasis, Bob Marley and The Rolling Stones … Favorite classes are English and history … Majoring in business administration.