WORCESTER, Mass. – Playing their third game in as many days, the Nichols baseball team powered past non-conference opponent Worcester State on Wednesday by the score of 11-7. With the win, the Bison improve to 8-16 on the season (3-3 CCC), while Worcester State falls to 9-13 (4-2 MASCAC).
The Bison jumped on the starting pitcher for the Lancers early, as
Johnny Knox led off the game with a single. After Worcester got a groundout and a pop-up,
Jim Marasco continued his tear for the Bison, launching his fourth home run of the season to give Nichols the early 2-0 lead. After a 1-2-3 bottom of the first from starting pitcher
Salvatore D'Anna, Nichols loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second. Knox came through for the Bison, blasting his first career grand slam to make it 6-0.
Worcester State broke through in the bottom of the second, using three consecutive singles to cut the Bison lead to five. However, Nichols quickly got the run back in the top of the third, as
Luis Vargas came around to score on a throwing error by the third baseman to get the lead back up to six. The Lancers made it a ballgame in the bottom of the third, picking up three runs on two hits, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch to make it 7-4.
The Bison wasted no time responding, as
Karl Miller doubled home two and Vargas knocked in another to extend the lead back to six runs in the fourth. The Lancers loaded the bases in the bottom half on two hit-by-pitches and a single before a fielder's choice, a groundout, and a base knock made it 10-7.
Both teams were set down quietly in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. The Bison tacked on an insurance run in the eighth, as Miller roped another double, this time scoring
Brennan Hyde to make it 11-7. Freshman
Eric Fields came on to record the final six outs, allowing just one base runner and striking out two to seal the victory.
Knox, Miller, and Vargas each picked up three hits, with Knox adding four RBI on the grand slam, and Miller three, to pace the Bison offense
. Patrick Sawyer and Fields combined for 5.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, racking up eight strikeouts in the process, to silence the Lancer bats.
Nichols returns to Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play on Saturday, April 15 when they take on Curry at home for "Welcome Back Alumni to the Park" day. The first pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
