MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (3/13/2026) – The Nichols College baseball team played two seven-inning games on Friday, March 13th against the University of Mary Washington for their final games of the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Caroline. The Bison took the first game against the Eagles 9-5 before dropping the second game 3-1.
After today's doubleheader split, Nichols moves to 3-5 on the season while Mary Washington now sits at 11-3.
Game 1: Nichols 9 Mary Washington 5
Mary Washington struck first with two runs in the opening inning. Collin Clarkson delivered an RBI single before Eric Powell added a sacrifice fly to give the Eagles a 2-0 advantage. Nichols answered in the second inning when
Tyler Ladouceur singled and later came around to score on an RBI groundout by
Andrew Rocca, trimming the deficit to 2-1.
The Bison broke the game open in the fourth inning with a six-run outburst. After Birks,
Tyler Ladouceur, and
Andrew Rocca reached base,
Ryan Keating worked a walk to walk in a run.
Anthony Hackert followed with a two-run single to left field, and
Charles MacElhiney added a two-RBI single later in the inning to give Nichols the lead. An error allowed another run to score as the Bison surged ahead 7-2.
Mary Washington responded with two runs in the fifth inning on RBI singles from Benjamin Rossi and Cole Powers, but Nichols countered in the bottom half when Rocca delivered an RBI single to extend the lead to 8-4.
The Eagles added one run in the sixth inning, but Nichols answered again in the bottom half as
Jack Raymond singled, stole second, and scored on an RBI single from Ladouceur to cap the scoring at 9-5.
The Bison collected 12 hits to erase the early deficit to secure their third win of the season. Ladouceur led the Bison offense with three hits and an RBI, while Rocca finished with two hits and two RBI. MacElhiney also recorded two hits and drove in two runs, and Hackert added a pair of RBI as Nichols totaled seven runs batted in.
On the mound,
Clark Churchill earned the win after coming into the game down 2-0 and pitching four innings in relief, leaving the game at 8-4. Rocca closed the game after coming into the game with the bases loaded, striking out two to secure the victory and earn the save.
Game 2: Nichols 1 Mary Washington 3
Nichols struck first in the third inning.
Ryan Keating singled to right-center and stole second before
Charles MacElhiney delivered an RBI single to center field to give the Bison a 1-0 lead.
Mary Washington answered in the bottom half of the third inning when Collin Clarkson tripled to right field to score William Tuttle and tied the game before a Nichols fielding error allowed Clarkson to score and put the Eagles ahead 2-1. The Eagles added an insurance run in the fifth inning when Ryan Henson doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Tuttle to extend the lead to 3-1. Nichols were unable to capitalize on the four walks and stealing three bases in the last four innings, resulting in the game finishing 3-1.
Keating and MacElhiney recorded the lone hits for Nichols, with MacElhiney driving in the team's only run. Keating also stole two bases on the night.
On the mound,
Aidan Whitten delivered a solid outing despite taking the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits while striking out four across six innings.
Baseball returns to Massachusetts for their next game on Wednesday, March 18th, when they face the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) at home at 3 PM.
