DUDLEY, Mass. (3/20/2024) – Junior Karl Miller lifted a fly ball into center field and scored graduate student Will Kleinhenz to plate the winning run as the Nichols College baseball team grabbed their seventh straight win of the season with a 7-5 win over Rivier University on Wednesday afternoon from the Nichols College Baseball Field.

Miller and senior Kelvin Gutierrez paced the way for the Bison with both tallying 2 RBI each in the effort. Senior Johnny Knox led all batters with three hits in the game. Junior Clark Churchill (3-0) earned his third win of the season, throwing the final 2.0 innings and striking out four batters and did not allow a hit to secure the Nichols win.

Knox opened the bottom half of the inning with a single to left field and put himself in scoring position after a wild pitch. He then stole third base, before scoring on a throwing error by the pitcher, who attempted to pick off senior Ben Jerome at first. Nichols led 1-0.

The Raiders jumped in front in the top of the fourth inning with a single to center field that scored two runners, making it 2-1 Rivier. Nichols evened the score in the bottom half of the inning, when Gutierrez plated Miller with a single.

Rivier doubled up the score in the fifth inning, with a two out single and then scored on a throw down to second base, making it 4-2 Rivier.

The Bison once again found themselves trailing, and once again pulled even in the bottom half of the fifth. Junior William Nath scored senior Brennan Hyde, after grounding into a double play. Miller reached first on a fielding error and scored Kleinhenz.

Rivier jumped back in front again, on a pass ball, making it 5-4 Raiders. In the bottom of the sixth inning, junior Taj Vera Cruz and Knox each singled and then Jerome beat out a bunt and Vera Cruz scored on the play to pull the Bison level again.

Nichols grabbed the lead for good on the eighth inning. Hyde walked and Kleinhenz singled, placing runners at first and second. Senior Andrew Croteau beat out a double play bid and pushed Kleinhenz over to third in the process. Nath walked to load the bases and then brought Miller up to the plate.

Miller lifted a two-strike pitch to center field and Kleinhenz tagged to score the go ahead and eventual game winning run for the Bison. Guiterrez then batted and ripped a single to right field, scoring Croteau to provide some insurance for the Bison.

In the top half of the ninth inning, Rivier's batter reached first after being hit by a pitch and then Churchill, closed the door with two strike outs and a catch that was ripped right back at him.

 Nichols won their seventh game of the season. The win streak is the longest since the Bison won eight games back in 2021. Nichols also swiped eight bags in the game, which is tied for fourth most all time in a single game. Nichols recorded eight stolen bases two other times; 4/14/15 vs Becker and 4/19/12 vs Newbury. 

Sophomore Brandon Metivier earned the start for the Bison, throwing 4.0 innings, allowing four runs and striking out six batters. Juniors Patrick Doyle, Sean Ryan, and freshmen Johnathon Brzezicki all threw 1.0 inning, striking out a combined five batters.

Nichols (9-3) will open Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play on Friday afternoon, as they welcome the Rams of Suffolk University to Nichols College Baseball Field, for a pair of games. Game one is slated to start at 1:00 p.m.