DUDLEY, Mass. (4/30/2024) – Sophomore
Liam Flynn worked a four pitch walk in the 10
th inning as the Nichols College baseball team topped Western New England in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play on Tuesday afternoon. Flynn's walk scored senior
Johnny Knox, to help the Bison win 8-7.
Graduate student
Will Kleinhenz, senior
Andrew Croteau, and junior
William Nath all tallied three hits for the Bison. Croteau also added three RBI to lead the way for the Bison.
Nichols opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, when the Bison plated Hyde with a fielder's choice off the bat of Croteau. Nichols led 1-0 after one inning of play.
The Golden Bears added two runs in the top of the second inning, to take a 2-1 lead. Kleinhenz scored Hyde on a single after a stolen base from Hyde. Croteau then singled to right center, scoring Flynn and Kleinhenz. Nichols led 4-1 after three innings.
In the fifth inning, two singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Bison, junior
Taj Vera Cruz walked to score Flynn, and extend the Bison lead. Nichols added another run in the inning off the bat of sophomore
Dylan Moran, to make it 6-2 Nichols.
After a single from Croteau, Nath doubled in Croteau, for a 7-2 Bison lead. The Golden Bears did not go away and scored five runs in the top of the eighth inning, to even the score at 7-7. This game was headed for extra innings.
Senior
Johnny Knox singled to open the bottom of the 10
th inning and Hyde was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Senior
Kelvin Gutierrez also walked to load the bases. Flynn then batted and on four pitches, earned a walk that scored Knox for the 8-7 win over the Golden Bears.
Junior
John Steed (5-1) earned the win for the Bison, throwing 2.1 innings to earn the win. Steed allowed one hit in his relief appearance to grab the win for the Bison. Classmate
Clark Churchill made the start for the Bison. Throwing 7.0 innings and allowed four runs and striking out four batters.
Nichols (28-9, 9-5 CCC) will continue their home stand, as they welcome Wesleyan to the Nichols Baseball Field for a 3:45 p.m. first pitch.