DUDLEY, Mass. (4/9/2025) – The Nichols College Baseball team scored three runs in the first inning and did not look back as they topped the Western New England Golden Bears, 7-5 from the Nichols Baseball on Wednesday afternoon in Conference of New England action.

Junior Liam Flynn powered the Bison offense, going 2-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Freshman Adam Pivacek and junior Julian Galvan also had great games, with Pivacek going 2-3 with an RBI and Glavan added three RBI.

The Golden Bears opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, after back-to-back walks and a pair of singles, leading 1-0 in the top half of the inning. Nichols plated three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take control of the game.

A single from Ben Jerome opened the inning and then a single from Flynn put runners on first and second. Senior Karl Miller walked to load the bases. Freshman Adam Pivacek singled to left center field. Scoring senior Ben Jerome from third base to even the score at 1-1. Junior Julian Galvan singled back up the middle, scoring Flynn and Miller to make it 3-1 Bison.

Nichols tacked on another run in the bottom of the second inning, when sophomore Anthony Hackert scored on a wild pitch, after opening the inning with a double down the left-field line. Two more runs came across in the bottom of the third inning. Three straight singles to open the inning loaded the bases. Galvan grounded out to second, scoring Miller. Freshman Collin Harty then grounded out to second and scored Pivacek as well. Nichols led 6-1 after three innings of play.

The Golden Bears did not go away quietly and scored three runs in the fourth and fifth inning to make it 6-4 Nichols. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Nichols added more insurance when Flynn launched a home run to right field, making it 7-4 Bison.

Another run in the top of eighth was all the Golden Bears could muster before senior John Steed entered the game to earn the save, facing four batters and fanning the final batter to secure the save for the Bison.

Freshman Dalton Holbrook earned the start, throwing 4.0 innings, while allowing four runs and striking out two batters. Senior Salvatore D'Anna saw 1.0 inning of action. Junior Nicholas Willand (1-0) earned the win in relief, throwing 2.1 innings, while allowing one hit, one run and fanning one. Steed (1) recorded his first save of the season, facing four batters in the ninth.

Nichols (12-10, 4-4 CNE) will stay home, and welcome the University of St. Joseph's to the Nichols Baseball Field for their Multiple Stadiums for Multiple Sclerosis (MS4MS) game. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.