COCOA BEACH, Fla. – The Nichols College baseball team fell to Richard Stockton, 8-3, Friday in Florida. The Bison stranded 10 Stockton runners, but were plagued by errors in the game; Nichols dips to 3-3 on the season.

The Bison were held to two hits while striking out five times over the first four innings, but Austin Martin (Wakefield, R.I.) came through with a double in the top of the fourth. Stockton, meanwhile took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first and added four runs on four hits in the third for a 5-0 lead headed into the fourth inning.

A four-hit Bison fifth plated four runs to bring Nichols back in the game, 3-5, highlighted by a two-run single from Joshua Clark (Brunswick, Maine). That was as much offense as the Bison would muster, however, as the Stockton pitching staff held Nichols to two hits over the remainder of the game.

A two-run home run followed by a pair of doubles pushed three Stockton players across, giving them an 8-3 advantage.

Scott Leecock (Palmer, Mass.) took the loss for the Bison, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits in four innings. JC LeBarron (Bennington, Vt.) gave up three runs on eight hits in the final four innings.

Nichols concludes its Florida trip with games against and Fransiscan (noon) and Baruch (4pm) Saturday. The Bison are scheduled to open The Commonwealth Coast Conference action Tuesday with a 3 p.m. home doubleheader against Gordon.

Richard-Stockton Uni 8, Nichols 3 (Mar 20, 2009 at Coca High School)
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Nichols............. 000 030 000  -  3  8  5
Richard-Stockton 104 003 000  -  8 14  1
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Pitchers: Nichols - Scott Leecock; JC LeBarron(5) and Robert Birkbeck; Daniel Smith (8).
Richard-Stockton Uni - Mihalyi; Slickmayer(9) and Scalise.
Win-Mihalyi  Loss-Scott Leecock 
HR STOCKTON - Fisher.