Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

DUDLEY, Mass. – Junior Evan Thompson (Longmeadow, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with two RBI to help the Nichols College baseball team earn the split of their Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) doubleheader Monday afternoon. The Bison rallied to win game one, 9-7, before the Lions answered back to win game two, 8-1.

Freshman Jeff Sylvester (Berlin, Conn.) went 2-for-4 with an RBI as the Bison moved to 5-21 on the season (4-8 CCC) with the split, matching last season's win total. Senior Shayne McNally (Auburn, Mass.), sophomore Benjamin Harrow (North Reading, Mass.), and freshman Scott Iacobucci (Hope, R.I.) each drove in one run on the afternoon.

Senior Max Pugh (San Diego, Calif.), junior Rocco Martinelli (Panama City, Panama), and sophomore Kurt Picarelli (Montrose, N.Y.) each picked up two RBI for the Lions (8-11, 2-8 CCC). Senior Anthony Berroa (Teaneck, N.J.) earned his third win of the year after pitching a complete game, three-hitter. He did not walk a batter and fanned two.

After exchanging runs in the first inning of game one, the Bison took a 3-1 lead in the second frame. Junior Brett Franciosi (Leominster, Mass.) scored off of a throwing error by sophomore Jeremy Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.), and then Thompson singled up the middle to drive in Sylvester.

Eastern Nazarene put up a '3' spot in the top half of the fourth inning and held a 6-3 lead going into the bottom of the sixth, when the Bison exploded for six runs on five hits. Thompson doubled to left-cener to plate junior Collin Geagan (Watertown, Mass.). After a passed ball scored freshman Tyler Ferdinand (Middleboro, Mass.) and advanced Thompson to third, freshman Matt Hardy (North Attleboro, Mass.) singled up the middle to tie things up at six. Sylvester later singled through the left side, scoring McNally and giving the Bison the lead.

Senior Nick Croteau (Fitchburg, Mass.) picked up his second win in as many days. He worked one inning of relief and struck out one while allowing one hit and no runs. Freshman Adam Rigney (Niantic, Conn.) earned his fourth save of the season. Freshman Frank Fusco (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) earned a no-decision for the Lions after pitching 4.1 innings and allowing two earned runs on nine hits while striking out one and walking one.

Nichols received solid innings from sophomore Joseph Nicolace (Cranston, R.I.) in game two. He went 5.2 innings and allowed four earned runs while scattering six hits, walking four, and striking out seven. The Lions posted two runs in each of the last four innings to secure the win, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of junior Rocco Martinelli (Panama City, Panama) and a solo blast from senior Max Pugh (San Diego, Calif.).

The Bison return to action tomorrow when they play host to Southern Vermont College at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Nazarene travels to play Rivier College tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.