DUDLEY, Mass. – Clutch pitching and a timely hit helped the Bison to a 1-0 win over Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opponent Western New England (WNE) on Tuesday afternoon. With the win, Nichols improved to 14-18 (8-4 CCC) on the year, while the Golden Bears fell to 20-8-2 (6-4-1 CCC).
 
Senior right-hander Chase Rancourt got the nod for the Bison, starting out the game with a 1-2-3 first inning, picking up a strikeout in the process. Western New England starter Jacob Hobart answered with a 1-2-3 inning of his own to retire the Bison. Rancourt cruised through the first three innings, allowing just one base runner, a single by Aaron Cole, to keep the game scoreless.
 
After the first two batters were set down in the bottom of the third, shortstop Johnny Knox worked a walk, the only of the game for the Bison, and eventually stole second to put himself in scoring position. Falling behind in the count 0-2 before watching a few tough pitches go by, senior Jim Marasco came up clutch for the home team, singling up the middle and scoring Knox to give Nichols the 1-0 advantage.
 
Rancourt handed the ball over to Richard Pignone in the fourth inning, as the southpaw set down the side in order in the fourth and fifth to maintain the one-run lead. After allowing a leadoff single followed by a walk in the sixth, WNE put two guys in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. The next batter was intentionally walked before Pignone got a foul-out to set up bases loaded two-outs. With a 3-2 count, Pignone got the batter to swing through an off-speed pitch to escape the jam and preserve the shutout.
 
Senior Patrick Sawyer took over for the lefty with a runner on and one out in the top of the seventh, immediately picking the runner off first and getting the batter to strike out swinging to head to the bottom of the seventh.
 
A leadoff single in the eight followed by a one-out double set up second and third once again for the Golden Bears. Another intentional pass loaded the bases, but Sawyer clutched up once again, inducing a strikeout and flyout to end the threat. It was smooth sailing for the Saco, Maine native in the ninth, striking out the leadoff hitter before getting two ground balls to earn his second save of the season and give Nichols the huge conference win.
 
Rancourt, Pignone, and Sawyer limited the Golden Bears to just four hits while striking out eight in the process. Karl Miller picked up two hits for the Bison, while also making some impressive catches in centerfield.
 
Nichols returns to action tomorrow, April 26, when they host Lasell in non-conference action starting at 3:30 p.m.