WORCESTER, Mass. – The Nichols College baseball team ran out of time as it was defeated by Anna Maria, 2-1, in a five-inning shortened game due to the dropping temperature as the teams played a non-conference contest at Quinsigamond Community College on Tuesday. With the win, the AMCATS now sit at 6-11 while the Bison slip to 3-12 on the season.
 
Senior Kevin Wodatch (Wallingford, Conn.) took to the mound for the AMCATS and earned his second win of the season. The hurler struck out six Bison over five complete innings, allowing just one run on three hits. Senior Padraig Gilman (Leominster, Mass.) collected the only AMCAT hit and RBI on the cold and blustery day.
 
First-year Joseph Nicolace (Cranston, R.I.) pitched four innings for the Bison allowing an earned run  on one hit, while striking out three AMCATS in the setback (0-2). Ryan McLane (Wallingford, Conn.), the reigning Commonwealth Coast Conference Rookie of the Week, pitched the fifth inning for Nichols in relief. Sophomore Brett Franciosi (Leominster, Mass.) had the only extra-base hit on the day, delivering a double while senior Bryan Gill (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) and firsr-year Greg Poll (East Granby, Conn.) each collected singles for Nichols.
 
Anna Maria notched two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Wodatch led off the inning with a walk and after a Joe McNeil (Sutton, Mass.) pop-up, swiped second base. Senior Mike Guarnieri (Wallingford, Conn.) drew the second walk of the inning to put AMCATS on first and second. Pat Gilman then delivered a line drive single through the left side to plate Wodatch; however, Guarnieri was caught in a rundown for the second out of the inning. Nichols seemed to be out of the inning when freshman Andrew Montiverdi (Worcester, Mass.) put the ball in play enabling Gilman to hustle around the bags and scored on the infield miscue for the 2-0 advantage.
 
Nichols cut the lead in half in the fourth inning, Franciosi laced a double to left center and Poll singled to left field to put Bison on the corners with one out. Senior Anthony Benvenuti (North Haven, Conn.) dropped a well-placed sacrifice bunt to score Franciosi. Wodatch retired the last Nichols batter to end the rally.
 
The game was called after five innings when the weather conditions became unplayable.
 
Nichols heads to McLaughlin Park in Leominster tomorrow for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference game against Fitchburg State. Anna Maria returns to action tomorrow when it hosts Rivier University at 2:00pm at New Balance Field in Worcester for a GNAC doubleheader.

Contributions from Anna Maria Sports Information