Box Score

RINDGE, N.H. – Junior Collin Geagan (Watertown, Mass.) and sophomore Benjamin Harrow (North Reading, Mass.) each drove in three runs in Nichols College's 12-11 loss to Fitchburg State College Tuesday night in non-conference action at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field.
 
The Bison (1-11) trailed 12-3 entering the bottom of the eighth before scoring three times in the frame and five more times in the ninth to account for the final score. Junior Brett Franciosi (Leominster, Mass.) recorded two RBI and also scored a run.
 
Fitchburg State (13-5) was led by senior David Mason (Leominster, Mass.) with three hits and two runs scored while junior Pierce Hans (Washington Township, N.J.) crossed the plate three times for the Falcons.
 
The Falcons received a solid pitching effort from junior Ryan Magni (West Springfield, Mass.), who surrendered five hits and three runs in four innings of work. He walked two and fanned six. Freshman Tyler Smith (New Milford, Conn.) picked up the win after tossing two scoreless innings and striking out one while not allowing a baserunner.
 
Trailing 12-6 and down to their final at bat, freshman Matt Hardy (North Attleboro, Mass.) was hit by a pitch and moved up on a wild pitch. Harrow then doubled to right field to drive in Hardy and keep Nichols hopes alive.
 
Following a ground out by freshman Tim Ford (Stafford Springs, Conn.), classmate Scott Iacobucci (Hope, R.I.) became the second Bison of the inning to be plunked by a pitch. Freshman Jeff Sylvester (Berlin, Conn.) stepped up next and lined one down the left field line to plate Harrow.
 
Fitchburg State then made a pitching change as freshman Steve Martel (East Hartford, Conn.) entered the contest, however he didn't have much success, either. Martel beaned junior Evan Thompson (Longmeadow, Mass.) to load the bases with the Bison trailing by four runs with just one out in the inning.
 
After an infield fly from Franciosi, Geagan kept the magic going for Nichols as he singled to score Iacobucci and Sylvester to cut the deficit to two runs at 12-10. The Falcons looked to their bullpen once again, this time bringing in freshman Kyle Cutler (Lancaster, Mass.). The first man he faced, junior Brett Jackson (Larchmont, N.Y.), lined one up the middle to score Thompson and push Geagan to second, pulling the Bison to within one. Cutler fanned Hardy – who started the Bison rally – to close the game.
 
Nichols scored a season-high 11 runs in the loss with eight different student-athletes crossing the plate.
 
Freshman Tyler Ferdinand (Middleboro, Mass.) took the loss for Nichols, allowing four hits and four runs (one earned) over four innings. He walked two and struck out two while throwing a pair of wild pitches. All told, five different Bison surrendered only four runs as the team committed seven errors.
 
The Bison open Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play tomorrow with a doubleheader at Curry at 2:00 p.m. Fitchburg State hosts WPI tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p.m.