DUDLEY, Mass. – In the first round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Playoffs, the Nichols baseball team dropped a tough decision to Roger Williams, 5-3. The Bison fall to 15-24 on the season, while the Hawks improve to 15-23.
After a scoreless first two innings, the Hawks got on the board first in the top of the third, as Christopher Flynn was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs, making it 1-0. Relief pitcher
Richard Pignone prevented any further damage, getting a flyout to end the inning. Roger Williams struck again in the fifth, as Flynn picked up another RBI, this time on a groundout to second, extending the lead to two.
The Bison cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth, as a hit by pitch and an error put runners on the corner with one out.
Brennan Hyde knocked in a run with a fielders choice, but a strikeout put an end to the threat. The Hawks got the run back in the top of the sixth on a two-out RBI double, making it a 3-1 ballgame.
In the bottom of the seventh,
Johnny Knox led off with a base hit up the middle, later getting into scoring position on a wild pitch. Senior
Will Kleinhenz roped a double down the left field line to score Knox and bring the Bison within one. After a walk to
Jim Marasco, junior
Ben Jerome came up clutch with a base knock up the middle, scoring Kleinhenz and knotting the game at three. Roger Williams was able to keep the score there, using a flyout and a strikeout to end the inning.
After a scoreless eighth, a one-out walk put a baserunner on for the Hawks. It was Flynn again coming through for Roger Williams, this time launching a two-run home run to right field to put his team back on top, 5-3. The Bison threatened with two runners on in the bottom of the ninth, but back-to-back lineouts concluded the game, pushing the Bison to the brink of elimination.
Junior
Andrew Croteau picked up two hits for Nichols, while Knox, Kleinhenz, Marasco, and Jerome all notched one hit on the day.
Nolan Sullivan got the start on the mound for the Bison, going two innings, allowing no runs, and collecting one punch out.
The Bison will look to stave off elimination tomorrow, May 11, when they travel to Beverly, Mass. to take on No. 1 Endicott. The first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
