WALTHAM, Mass. (4/2/24) – Behind great pitching from junior John Steed and a perfect day at the plate for Ben Jerome, the Nichols College baseball team topped Brandeis University on Tuesday afternoon from Stein Baseball Diamond. The Bison won 9-1 over the Judges.
Jerome was a perfect 3-3 at the plate with three walks and an RBI. Senior Johnny Knox was the other Bison with three hits, going 3-6, and scoring twice in the win. Classmate Andrew Croteau and graduate student Jim Marasco each tallied two RBI, to lead the team.
Steed (2-0) secured his second win of the season, throwing 5.0 innings and allowing one run on four hits. Junior Sean Ryan struck out four batters in 3.0 innings of work, while also recording 100th strikeout in the process for Nichols. Classmate Nolan Sullivan made an appearance in the ninth inning and struck out two batters.
Knox opened the game with a lead-off double into left center field, and then three straight walks followed, scoring Knox and giving Nichols a 1-0 lead. Croteau picked up his first RBI of the day, making it 2-0 after grounding into a double play but scoring Jerome.
In the fourth inning, the Judges cut into the Bison lead. The judges scored their lone run of the afternoon on a wild pitch, making it 2-1 Nichols. From that point, the Bison dominated play and pulled away for the win.
In the top of the fifth inning, Nichols extended their lead with two more runs. Jerome walked to open the inning and senior Brennan Hyde doubled to left center and scored Jerome. Croteau earned his second RBI with a sac fly that scored Hyde. Nichols led 4-1.
Nichols put the game out of reach in the eighth inning, with five more runs. Jerome singled with the bases loaded and scored sophomore Liam Flynn in the process. After back-to-back outs, Croteau singled off the pitcher and beat out the throw, scoring sophomore Dylan Moran. Marasco then hit a two RBI single into right center and plated Jerome and Knox. Flynn then walked to scored Croteau for a 9-1 Nichols lead.
The Bison shut down the Judges, holding them to six hits on the afternoon. Nichols (14-5) will get some time off before they hit the road once again and travel to Beverly, Mass on Saturday, April 6, where they will face off against the #1 Endicott College Gulls. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.