EAST BOSTON, Mass. – The Nichols baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader to Suffolk in their first taste of Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action this season on Sunday afternoon. With the setbacks, the Bison fall to 1-13 (0-2 CCC) on the season, while Suffolk improves to 6-4 (2-0 CCC).
 
Nichols will look to bounce back on Tuesday, March 28 when they travel to Boston, Mass. to take on Wentworth in another CCC contest.
 
Suffolk 3, Nichols 2
 
After a scoreless opening frame, Suffolk opened the scoring in the second inning on a Luke Harder RBI triple, followed by a Timothy McCarthy base knock to score Harder. The game remained 2-2 as starting pitchers Aidan Whitten for Nichols, and Garret Roberts for Suffolk settled in nicely. The Rams tacked on an insurance run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
 
The Bison did not go quietly however, scoring their first run of the game in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Johnny Knox. In the ninth, Nichols, down to their final out, loaded the bases on a knox double followed by two walks. Ben Jerome was hit by a pitch to force a run home and make it a one-run game, but the Bison came up just short as Jonny Gilbride recorded the final out to give the Rams the win.
 
Knox and Brennan Hyde led the offense for Nichols, combining for all five of the Bison's hits. Whitten tossed 4.1 innings, allowing two runs, both earned, and striking out four in the losing effort.
 
Suffolk 4, Nichols 3
 
Much like the first game, Suffolk jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first few innings. Starter Jack Kabel bounced back after the first inning, keeping the Suffolk offense in check for the next four innings. Nichols finally got on the board in the top of the sixth on a throwing error on a sac bunt attempt by Brad Ellis, scoring Hyde. The Rams answered right back in the bottom of the inning, using a leadoff double and an RBI single to make it 3-1.
 
Nichols had a rally in their bones in the eighth, as Hyde came up clutch with a two-RBI single to knot the game up at three. Suffolk was able to get out of the jam to end the inning and keep the game tied. The Rams answered once again in the bottom of the inning, this time with a pair of doubles, to retake the lead. Suffolk worked around a walk in the top of the ninth to claim their second victory of the afternoon.
 
Hyde collected another multi-hit game, going 2-4 at the plate with two RBI. Jim Marasco was on base three times, picking up a hit while also working two walks. Kabel was solid on the bump, going 5.2 innings, allowing three runs (one earned), and striking out seven.