DUDLEY, Mass. (3/30/2024) – Behind three home runs from senior Johnny Knox and excellent pitching performances from graduate student Patrick Sawyer and junior Clark Churchill, the Nichols College baseball team earned a sweep over Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opponent Gordon College on Saturday afternoon from Nichols College Baseball Field. The Bison won game one 14-8 and game two 12-2.

Knox was weekend's top performer going 5-10 with three home runs, seven RBI, and six runs scored in the pair of wins for the Bison. Senior Ben Jerome and graduate student Jim Marasco also added three RBI on their days for Nichols.

Sawyer and Churchill were great for the Bison on the bump. Sawyer threw 6.2 innings, to earn his second won of the season and fanned four batters in the effort. Churchill threw a complete game and struck out two batters, while allowing three hits in the win.

Game 1: Nichols 14, Gordon 8
Nichol opened the scoring in game one, after back-to-back walks from sophomore Dylan Moran and Marasco. Knox ten batted with two outs and blasted a three-run home run over the left field fence to grab a 3-0 Nichols lead in the bottom of the second inning.

The Fighting Scots grabbed two back in the top half of the third inning and evened the score at 3-3 in the fourth. Knox gave Nichols the lead once again, after scoring on a single off the bat of Jerome. The Bison added more insurance with an RBO single from junior Karl Miller and a Moran sac fly, making it 6-3.

Back-to-back Nichols RBI singles from Miller and Marasco extended the Bison lead to 8-3. Gordon was not done, yet and scored four runs in the seventh inning, to pull themselves within a run. In the bottom half of the inning, Nichols out the game out of reach for good.

The Bison plated four runs, thanks to a sac fly from Jerome, a solo home run from senior Brennan Hyde, and a two RBI single off the bat of Marasco for a 12-7 lead. Nichols pushed the lead to 14 and the Fighting Scots added a run before the game ended. Nichols won game one, 14-8to claim their first CCC win of the season.

The Bison also moved themselves into second place all-time with their 10 stolen bases in the game. Tying them with 10 steals in a game when they did it 2009 against Hilbert on March 18.

Game 2: Nichols 12, Gordon 2 (7 innings)

The Fighting Scots opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, as they plated two runs on two hits for a 2-0 lead. Nichols battled back and cut into the lead in the bottom half of the opening frame. Hyde singled and scored Jerome.

The Nichols offense proceed to explode for seven runs in the bottom of the second inning, to grab a commanding lead in the second game. The inning was highlighted by a Knox two run home run, a two RBI double from senior Andrew Croteau and a two RBI single from Miller. Nichols led 8-2 after two innings.

The Bison added a ninth run, with a sac fly in the fifth inning. Knox homered for the third time on the day, in the bottom of the sixth inning, making it 12-2 Nichols. This 10-run lead, implemented the 10-run rule in the conference, calling the game at 7 innings and giving Nichols the 12-2 win.

Nichols (12-5) will hit the road and travel to Dean College on Monday, April 1. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.