DUDLEY, Mass. (4/10/2024) – Senior Andrew Croteau lifted a ball into left center field and the ball landed in the gap, scoring Ben Jerome in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Nichols College baseball team walked off, over the University of Saint Joseph (CT). Nichols won 7-6 against the Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon from Nichols Baseball Field.
Seniors Johnny Knox, Brennan Hyde and juniors William Nath, Jacob Tipton all recorded multi-hits games for the Bison. For Tipton, his single in the second inning, was his first collegiate hit. Knox led the way for the Bison with 2 RBI off a two-run home run.
Nichols opened the scoring in bottom of the second inning, with four consecutive singles and Nath singling in senior Kelvin Gutierrez to make it 1-0 Nichols. Tipton dropped a hit into right field, and this brought junior Luis Vargas home for a 2-0 Bison lead. Nath then scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Jerome.
In the third inning, Vargas scored Hyde from third base for a 4-0 lead. The Blue Jays were not done, and they added two runs in the top of the fourth inning, with a two-run single to cut the Bison lead in half. In the bottom half of the inning, Nichols regained their four-run lead off the bat of Knox. He launched a ball over the left field fence, for a 6-2 lead.
This home run from Knox was his 10th home run of the season and moved him into second place in single season home runs, behind only Kyle Bouchard, who hit 12 in 2021. Knox also lands in second place for home runs all-time at Nichols with 20.
The Blue Jays continued to battle back and did so, with a four run sixth inning and leveling the score at 6-6. Both teams struggled to find the next run and the Bison found themselves with an opportunity to win the game in he bottom of the ninth.
Jerome worked a full count walk for the Bison, to get the first runner on base of the inning. After a balk by the pitcher that moved Jerome to second base, Knox was intentionally walked. Both runners advanced on a pass ball and Hyde was then intentionally walked as well, to load the bases for Croteau. Croteau hit a fly ball into left center field and scored Jerome with the ball landing in the gap. Nichols earned the walk-off win, with a 7-6 final.
Junior Nolan Sullivan (2-1) earned the win for the Bison, tossing 3.1 innings in relief. Sullivan struck out three batters, while allowing no hits and runs for the Bison. Sophomore Brandon Metivier earned the start for the Bison, with 5.0 innings pitched and four strikeouts.
Nichols (15-8, 2-5 CCC) looks forward to Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opponent Wentworth on Saturday afternoon at Nichols Baseball Field. Game one of the double header is set for 11:30.