GEORGETOWN, Texas (3/12/2024) – Senior Johnny Knox ripped a single into left field in the bottom of the seventh inning that scored two runs and broke a 7-7 tie for the Bison as they rallied to knock off Whittier College (Ca.) 9-7, on Tuesday night from Rockwell Family Baseball Field.

Knox finished the day batting 4-5 with a double and 2 RBI and junior Nolan Sullivan (1-1) threw 2.2 scoreless innings for the Bison, to earn his first win of the season. Senior Brennan Hyde added two hits including a triple and an RBI, while sophomore Dylan Moran added a triple too.

Junior Sean Ryan threw 5.1 innings of action for the Bison and struck out one batter. Classmate Richard Pignone threw 1.0 innings and added a strikeout out of the bullpen.

Whittier opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with a three-run home run after allowing a hit by pith and batters to walk. Nichols trailed 3-0 after the first half inning. Knox singled in the bottom of the first inning to open the frame. Hyde and graduate student Jim Marasco both walked to load the bases. Classmate Will Kleinhenz was then hit by a pitch to plate Knox and cut into the lead. Junior Karl Miller walked after a pitching change, to score Hyde. The Bison trailed 3-2 after the first inning.

In the bottom of the second inning, Nichols pulled even. Junior Taj Vera Cruz and Knox both singled with one out. Hyde singled to left field and scored Vera Cruz from second base to even the score at 3-3.

The Poets grabbed the lead back in the top of the third inning and led 4-3 until the sixth inning, when they jumped back out to a two-run lead, 5-3.

For the second time in the game, the Bison found themselves down two runs. Sophomore Noah Sanabia singled to the shortstop to open the bottom of sixth. Moran blasted a triple into the right center gap and scored Sanabia. Vera Cruz then popped out to the first basemen and Moran scored on the sac fly. Nichols pulled even 5-5.

Whittier added two more runs in the seventh inning and lead by two runs once again, 7-5. The Bison blew the game open and grabbed their first lead of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kleinhenz singled to open the inning and junior Will Nath doubled down the left field line and pushed Kleinhenz to third with no outs. Miller walked to load the bases. Moran reached first based after grounding the ball back to the pitcher and the pitcher threw the ball over the catcher's head to score Kleinhenz.

Nichols trailed 7-6 with in the seventh inning with two outs. Nichols then scored the tying run on a wild pitch. Knox batted and ripped a single to left field, scoring both Moran and Miller to give Nichols their first lead of the game. Nichols hung on to win 9-7 over the Poets.

Nichols (4-3) will wrap up their spring break trip on Wednesday, March 13, against Southwestern University from Rockwell Family Baseball Field. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. (CT).