BRISTOL, R.I. (3/30/2026) – The Nichols College baseball team split a Conference of New England doubleheader with Roger Williams University on Monday afternoon at Paolino Field, dropping the opener 6-2 (7 innings) before responding with a dominant performance in game two to win 12-3 off a complete game from senior captain Aidan Whitten.
Nichols moves to 8-7 overall (2-1 CNE) following the split, while Roger Williams moves to 7-8 (1-2 CNE).
Game One: Roger Williams 6, Nichols 2 (7 innings)
Nichols were limited offensively in the opener, falling 6-2 despite adding runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
Roger Williams struck first with a run in the second inning and added two more in the third to take a 3-0 lead. The Bison answered in the fourth when Adam Pivacek drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and cut the deficit to one in the fifth on an RBI single from Kyle Birks.
Roger Williams capitalized on miscues in the fifth inning, scoring three runs, with two of them unearned, to extend the lead to 6-2. The Bison couldn't find another run in the sixth and seventh innings, giving the Hawks a 6-2 win.
Anthony Hackert led Nichols at the plate, going 2-for-3, while Andrew Rocca added a double and a run scored. The Bison managed six hits in the contest but were unable to generate a late rally.
Graduate student Clark Churchill took the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) over four innings, while junior Mitch Brown provided two scoreless innings of relief.
Game Two: Nichols 12, Roger Williams 3
Nichols bounced back in a big way in game two, erupting for 12 runs on 13 hits to earn the split.
The Bison wasted no time getting on the board, as Rocca hit a triple to bring home a run in the first inning before Kyle Birks added an RBI double in the second to make it 2-0.
Nichols broke the game open in the third inning with a five-run outburst. RBI singles from Rocca and Charles MacElhiney, along with good baserunning and Roger Williams errors, pushed the lead to 7-0.
After Roger Williams cut into the deficit with a three-run homer in the bottom of the third, Nichols responded immediately in the fourth. Jack Raymond delivered the biggest swing of the game with a three-run home run to extend the lead to 10-3. The Bison tacked on two more runs in the eighth and cruised to the 12-3 victory.
Rocca led the offense with a 4-for-5 performance, including a triple, double, and two RBI. Hackert scored three runs, while Julian Galvan also crossed the plate three times. Raymond finished with four RBI, and MacElhiney added two of his own.
On the mound, Aidan Whitten was outstanding, tossing a complete game while allowing just three runs on five hits and striking out eight.
The Bison returns to action tomorrow, going back on the road to Trelease Park to face CNE opponent Western New England at 3:30 PM.
