DUDLEY, Mass. – Sophomore Nick Osma (Babylon, N.Y.) drove in a run for the Nichols College baseball team, which was defeated by Salve Regina University 8-3 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Playoffs Thursday afternoon at the Nichols Baseball Field.

Junior Matt Hardy (North Attleboro, Mass.) had a pair of hits for the Bison, who saw their six-game winning streak snapped. Senior starting pitcher Joe Nicolace (Cranston, R.I.) surrendered 10 hits and six runs (three earned) with one walk and three punch-outs in 4.2 innings of work to fall to 4-2 on the season.

Freshman Zach Smith (New Canaan, Conn.) went 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Seahawks, who also saw senior Ryan Kelly (Waldwick, N.J.) drive in a pair. That was more than enough run support for sophomore starting pitcher Billy Humes (East Rockaway, N.Y.), who gave up seven hits and three runs (one earned) in eight innings. He walked three and struck out three to pick up his fourth win of the season.

Salve Regina scored in each of the first five innings to build a 6-3 lead. Smith singled in runs in both the first and third innings while junior Hunter Sleeper (Arlington, Mass.) executed a squeeze bunt in the fourth. The Bison, meanwhile, scored a pair of unearned runs in the second and one in the fourth on Osma's single through the left side.

The Seahawks tacked on two in the eighth on an RBI double off the bat of Kelly, who later scored on the backend of a double steal.

Freshman Danny Hayden (North Kingstown, R.I.) pitched the final 4.1 innings for Nichols. He gave up three hits and two earned runs with two walks and one strikeout.

All-Time Series
Nichols and Salve Regina have met 28 times over the years with the Seahawks posting a 23-6 record. Bison head coach Nick Puccio is 2-6 against the Seahawks since arriving in Dudley in 2013.

Next Games
Nichols (24-15) – Friday, May 6 @ Western New England, 3:00 p.m.
Salve Regina (22-15-1) – Friday, May 6 @ Endicott, 3:00 p.m.