SMITHFIELD, R.I. (5/7/2025) – Senior John Steed dealed and Ben Jerome recorded four singles, as the No. 2 seeded Nichols College Baseball team earned an 11-3 win over the No. 3 seeded University of Hartford, on Wednesday afternoon in the Conference of New England Quarterfinal. The Bison saw a five-run seventh inning, to secure the win.

Jerome powered the Bison offense once again with a 4-5 afternoon to lead all hitters in the game. Sophomore Adam Pivacek and freshman Collin Harty each tallied multi-hits as well. Senior Andrew Croteau added two RBI and two runs scored in the game.

Steed became the Program's single-season wins holder with his ninth of the season. Steed passes Chris Demers, who set the record 2004 with eight wins. 

Hartford opened the scoring in the third inning, with a home run to left field, making it 1-0 Hawks. In the bottom of the third inning, Nichols grabbed the lead, when freshman Ryan Keating laid down a punt and the throw from the first basemen sailed over the second basemen, and Jerome and junior Julian Galvan both scored for a 2-1 lead.

Nichols tacked on one more run in the inning, when junior Liam Flynn lifted a sacrifice fly into centerfield and scored Keating. The Bison offense added their fourth run of the game, when Galvan scored Croteau, as he beat out a double play ball and Nichols led 4-1.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bison plated two more runs, with a two RBI single from Harty, as he scored Pivacek and sophomore Anthony Hackert. Nichols threw up a crooked number in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring five runs in inning, with five straight hits, including three doubles to score four runs in the inning. Jerome then singled in Harty to take an 11-1 Bison lead after seven innings.

The eighth inning, saw the Hawks, score two more runs, cutting into the Bison lead at 11-3. Nichols hung on with senior Nolan Sullivan, who came out of the bullpen to strikeout the side to close out the game and secure their first playoff win since 2022, when they topped Salve Regina, 7-4.

Steed (9-1) continued to impress, with his ninth win of the season. He allowed one run on six hits and fanned three batters. Senior Patrick Doyle saw action in the eighth inning, getting the Bison out of a jam, while allowing two hits.

Nichols (25-16, 11-5 CNE) will travel to the Tournament's top seed, #3/4 Endicott College for the Semifinal round. First pitch from North Field is set for 2:00 p.m.