FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 4, 2012) – The Fitchburg State baseball fell to the visiting Bison of Nichols College, 14-9 in non-conference action this afternoon at Elliot Field.

Nichols exploded for seven runs in the top of the third inning, breaking open a close 4-3 contest and clinch their third victory of the season. In the rally, the Bison received key hits from sophomore Nick Shaw (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth South), a one-run single, and Dylan Courtney (Ware, Mass./Ware), a run scoring single, while junior John Micciche (Holbrook, Mass./BC High) capped the rally with a two-run double.

After Nichols opened the game with four unearned runs in the top of the second, Fitchburg State quickly battled back, scoring three times in the bottom of the frame to cut its deficit to one (4-3). An RBI double from Frank Yavorosky (Westminster, Mass./Narragansett) provided the big spark for the Falcons, while an RBI single from Patrick McMahon (S. Windsor, Conn./S. Windsor) and passed ball to score Chris Rivera (New Britain, Conn./New Britain) plated the other Falcon runs..

In the eighth, Fitchburg State inched closer, scoring four times on three hits and one error to trail by only four (11-7). Back-to-back hits from McMahon and Jeff Boice (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury), and a hit-by-pitch to Matt Zajac (New Hartford, Conn./St. Paul /Catholic)) loaded the bases for junior Cody Bamforth's (Vernon, Conn./Rockville) two-run double down the right-field line.

Despite a two-run ninth inning from the Falcons, Nichols sealed its victory, plating three runs in the top of the frame for a 14-7 advantage. Junior Dylan Smith (New London, Conn./New London) took the loss for the Falcons, yielding seven runs (three earned) on six  hits over 2.1 IP, while Nichols starter Collin Geagan (Watertown, Mass./Watertown) scattered nine hits and six earned runs over 7.1 IP to notch the victory

Boice paced the Falcons ten hit attack, finishing 4-for-5 with a double and two runs scored while McMahon added a 3-for-4 performance with two runs scored and one RBI. Courtney led the Bison offense with a 3-for-5 day, including a run scored and two RBI, while Cody Jankins (W. Brookfield, Mass./Quabog) and Micciche both added a pair of hits.

Fitchburg State (4-15, 0-2 MASCAC) returns to action on Friday as it hosts MCLA at 2 p.m. Nichols (3-14, 1-7 TCCC) will visit Elms College on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Courtesy Fitchburg State Sports Information