Box Score DUDLEY, Mass. (Apr. 17) – Sophomore Mike McGowan batted 5-for-6 as he drove in four runs and scored three times to lead Springfield past host Nichols, 17-5, on Tuesday in a non-conference baseball matchup. With the win, the Pride now sports a 15-12 record while the Bison dip to 6-17.
 
Springfield rookie Steve Starr connected on the first pitch of the day as he put a home run over the right field fence for the early 1-0 lead. Later in the inning a wild pitch allowed sophomore Mike McGowan for the 2-0 advantage.
 
The bases were juiced with two outs in the bottom of the third as senior Richie Burke singled through the left side to drive in a pair of runs for the hosts.
 
The game would be knotted at 2-2 until Springfield put up three runs in the top of the fifth. McGowan used a run-producing double to plate a pair of runners. Two batters later another Pride tally came in as senior Karl Quist sent a sacrifice fly to center field.
 
Springfield would deliver eleven runs in the seventh which included a string of four consecutive doubles. McGowan started things off with a sacrifice fly to center field while Quist and graduate student Mike Tanguay each had a pair of successful at-bats combining for five RBI in the frame.
 
Nichols came together to put three runs up in the home half of the inning. Junior Anthony Benvenuti doubled to plate the first run. Sophomore Tyler Shute then fouled out allowing a run to record an RBI in his first career at-bat. Burke singled to drive in Benvenuti for the final Bison tally of the contest.
 
McGowan completed his day with an RBI single to center field in the top of the eighth.
 
A total of 10 pitchers saw the mound between both clubs. Sophomore Travis Lane picked up the victory (1-2) for the Pride while rookie Chris Johnson was saddled with the loss (0-1).
 
Burke and first-year Brett Jackson each hit safely twice as rookie Austin Keeney collected his first collegiate hit. Quist and freshman Ryan O'Rourke recorded a pair of hits for the visitors.
 
The Bison return to the diamond on Thursday when the club entertains Newbury for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference contest. Springfield opens a three-game NEWMAC series on Friday as the Pride will travel to Babson for a 3:30 p.m. showdown.

Box Score