Box Score

WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Nichols College baseball team was defeated by Westfield State University 11-2 Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action.

Junior Brett Franciosi (Leominster, Mass.) and freshman Matt Hardy (North Attleboro, Mass.) both drove in a run while Hardy, along with classmates Jeff Sylvester (Berlin, Conn.) and Scott Iacobucci (Hope, R.I.), each recorded a pair of hits for the Bison (3-16).

Sophomore Connor Sheridan (South Hadley, Mass.) was 3-for-4 with two RBI to pace the Owls (9-9) while classmate Dan McCormack (Shelton, Conn.) was 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. McCormack also threw out a Bison at home plate to end the seventh inning and scored the game-winning run in the fifth by sprinting home from second base on a sacrifice fly. 

Junior Pat McWilliams (Duxbury, Mass.), who also threw out a runner at home, drove in two runs on the sacrifice fly to deep center field to give the Owls a 3-2 lead after five innings. The Owls tacked on two more runs in the sixth and crossed the plate six times on six hits and three walks in the seventh inning. 

Westfield State's three pitchers did not issue a walk while Nichols four pitchers walked eight. The teams combined for nine errors – five for the owls and four for the Bison. 

Sophomore Tommy Nowlan (Williamstown, Mass.) was credited with the pitching victory. He entered the game in the top of the third and hurled six complete innings, allowing seven hits and striking out three. Freshman Tyler Ferdinand (Middleboro, Mass.) took the loss for Nichols as he allowed three hits and four earned runs in two innings of work.

Nichols plays at Worcester State tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. and will be the home team. Westfield State hosts UMass Dartmouth Thursday afternoon.

Contributions from Westfield State sports information