Box Score

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Sophomore Ryan McLane (Wallingford, Conn.) threw seven-plus innings to propel the Nichols College baseball team to their first win of 2014, a 3-2 triumph over Southern Vermont in non-conference action Thursday afternoon at the Snowbird Classic at North Charlotte County Regional Park.

McLane scattered six hits and allowed two earned runs with one walk and a pair of strikeouts as the Bison (1-7) gave first-year head coach Nick Puccio his first career win as a head coach. Junior Brett Franciosi (Leominster, Mass.) and freshman Tim Ford (Stafford Springs, Conn.) each recorded an RBI as Nichols recorded 10 hits and overcame three errors in the field to secure the win.

Franciosi picked up four hits for the Bison, ending the game just a homerun shy of the cycle. He led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double, eventually scoring off of a fielder's choice to the pitcher by Ford. Franciosi had a bunt-single in the bottom of the second and a one-out triple in the bottom of the eighth inning, neither of which the Bison could capitalize on.

Southern Vermont (5-7) got a strong start from freshman Dylan Angelo (Ft. Johnson, N.Y.). He pitched seven innings allowing only three runs (two earned) on nine hits and one walk while striking out two.

Sophomore Quinten Scott (Ashaway, R.I.) led the day in the batter's box for the Mountaineers picking up two hits, including an RBI-double in the top of the sixth that scored freshman Tony Mercuri (Ridge, N.Y.).

The Bison will take on Wisconsin Platteville tomorrow at noon. Southern Vermont will battle Knox tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m.