WORCESTER, Mass. – The Nichols baseball team fell to non-conference opponent Clark on a walk-off home run on Thursday afternoon by the score of 5-4. With the loss, Nichols drops to 1-11 (0-0 CCC) on the season, while the Cougars improve to 6-5 (0-0 NEWMAC).
 
Both teams were able to get some runners on base in the early innings, but the starting pitchers worked their way out of jams to keep the game scoreless. Clark got on the board first when Brayden Hollinrake laid down an unexpected two-out bunt with a runner on third and was able to beat the throw, scoring Samuel Ferrell. The Bison answered back in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with no outs. Ben Jerome scored Johnny Knox on a fielders choice, but Clark was able to escape further damage and keep the game tied at one.
 
Nichols threatened again in the top of the fifth, getting the first two batters of the inning on with a walk and a single. Leadoff hitter Andrew Croteau came up to bat in an obvious bunting situation, but executed a perfect slash play, singling through the left side and scoring Brad Ellis to give the Bison their first lead of the day. Clark was once again able to limit the damage, this time getting three straight groundouts to end the inning.
 
The Cougars responded in the bottom of the inning, following up a leadoff single with a double in the right-center gap to set up second and third with no outs. Clark got the tying run home on an error and eventually took the lead on a sacrifice fly.
 
The Bison wasted no time in tying things up once again, this time thanks to a Jim Marasco RBI triple that was laced over the center fielder's head. Marasco was cut down at home trying to score on a flyout to end the inning. After a scoreless seventh, Nichols took a 4-3 lead in the eighth on two walks, a hit by pitch, and a passed ball, all with two outs in the inning. Clark was set down in order in the bottom of the inning as the game headed to the ninth with the Bison leading 4-3.
 
Nichols got a leadoff double from Knox in the top of the ninth, but a flyout and two groundouts ended the threat. Down to their final three outs, the Cougars led off the bottom of the inning with a walk. Farrell stepped up to the plate and on a 3-2 count launched a ball over the left field fence to give Clark their sixth win of the season.
 
Knox led the way for the Bison with a 3-4 performance. Brennan Hyde picked up two hits in his first game back since March 6th. John Steed got the start on the bump for Nichols, tossing three innings and allowing one run.
 
Nichols heads into Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play on Saturday, March 25 when they travel to Boston, Mass. to take on Suffolk in a doubleheader. The first pitch is slated for 12:00 p.m.