DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols College baseball team suffered a pair of setbacks to Gordon by scores of 8-6 and 11-7 in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Patriots' Day twinbill at the Nichols Baseball Field.
 
First-year Joseph Nicolace (Cranston, R.I.) led the Bison with a 4-for-7 day that included an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Evan Thompson (Longmeadow, Mass.) and senior Anthony Benvenuti (North Haven, Conn.) each batted 3-for-7 and combined for five RBI and three runs scored. Benvenuti also had a double in each game for the Bison. Sophomore Brett Franciosi (Leominster, Mass.) was 2-for-4 – including a double – to go along with a pair of RBI and a run scored.
 
Senior Stephen Crawford (Haddon Heights, N.J.) led the Fighting Scots with a 4-for-5 day with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. Sophomore Alex German (Brimfield, Ill.) also had four hits – three doubles – on seven at-bats collecting four RBI and scoring four times. Senior Brian Harrington (Shoreham, N.Y.) delivered a pair of RBI and three runs scored courtesy of a 3-for-8 day. Seniors Geoff Brown (East Moriches, N.Y.), Dillon Coleman (Cromwell, Conn.) and  Ben Davidson (Sterling, Mass.) along with freshmen Alex Potocki (New Fairfield, Conn.) and Eric Rinaldi (Torrington, Conn.) each hit safely twice and totaled six RBI and eight runs scored.
 
The Bison raced out to a 4-0 advantage after a full inning of play. Junior Nick Shaw (Plymouth, Mass.) drew a two-out bases loaded walk and Benvenuti used one of his doubles to clear the base paths with a single swing for three RBI.  Gordon began to chip away at the hosts lead with a pair in the third as German struck on a two-RBI double to right to bring the game within two.
 
Rinaldi scampered home on a double steal and Brown singled in a run to make it a 4-4 ballgame. The guests tacked on three more tallies in the fifth beginning with a German RBI double up the middle. Harrington followed with a two-run blast to center field.  Gordon added an insurance marker in the sixth on a run-producing single to right center by Davidson.
 
Not going away, the Bison had the bases loaded before an out was recorded in the seventh. Following a pair of outs, junior Shayne McNally (Auburn, Mass.) delivered a pair of runs as he found an opening in shallow right field. The threat was suppressed on a ground out to first to end game one.
 
Davidson earned the win (5-1) as he allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out seven in five innings for the Fighting Scots. Harrington and Sophomore Billy Jack Ryan (Tiburon, Calif.) each tossed an inning of relief for the visitors.
 
Sophomore Collin Geagan (Watertown, Mass.) was tagged with the loss (0-4) as he surrendered seven runs – six earned – on nine hits over the first five frames. Sophomore Chris Johnson (Mansfield, Mass.) and senior Ray Curto (Braintree, Mass.) each made an appearance on the hill for the Bison.
 
In the nightcap, Gordon put up a pair of runs as Potocki hit into a fielder's choice and Crawford singled as both were credited with an RBI. Nichols evened the contest in the second courtesy of Benvenuti's RBI double to deep right center and a Thompson ball put into play for a run-producing fielder's choice. Franciosi then helped the Bison take a 3-2 lead as he used a squeeze to plate Benvenuti.
 
Rinaldi put the ball in play and an infield miscue allowed German to score making it an even 3-3 in the third. Gordon then took the lead on a two-RBI knock to center field by freshman Cody Davey (Plymouth, Mass.). The Bison later strung together a trio of RBI in the fourth as Franciosi and Nicolace each singled and Jankins drew a walk for the 6-5 advantage.
 
Gordon exploded for six runs and took the lead for good in the top of the sixth. The frame was highlighted by a Rinaldi two-RBI double down the right field line and a sacrifice fly to center by freshman Eric Walker (Danvers, Mass.). Nichols pushed one more base runner across home plate on a ground out by Micciche for the 11-7 final.
 
Senior John Kanas (East Moriches, N.Y.) earned the win (3-1) as he was on the hill for the final three stanzas for the Fighting Scots. Kanas allowed one run on three hits and struck out three in the relief effort. Freshman Scott Hall (Weymouth, Mass.) surrendered six runs – four earned – on five hits in the first three innings. Freshman Eric Proulx (Charlton, Mass.) struck out two in the fourth for the visitors.
 
Rookie Brady Boisvert (Plainfield, N.H.) allowed 10 runs – five earned – on 10 hits in five and a third in the setback (2-1) for the Bison. Nicolace and Johnson accounted for the final one and two-thirds for the hosts.
 
Nichols (4-22, 1-9 CCC) heads to Springfield tomorrow for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference game. Gordon (16-10, 5-5 CCC) entertains Emerson tomorrow also at 3:30 p.m.