PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – The Nichols College baseball team defeated SUNY Canton 9-3 in non-conference action Friday afternoon in the Snowbird Classic.
 
Coming off of three losses – the Bison struck for five runs over the first two innings – including a two-run double to right center field by junior Nick Roy (Middletown, Conn.) that scored freshman Christopher Cerniglia (Monroe, N.J.) and juniorCam Cook (Phoenixville, Pa.).
 
Cook and Cerniglia extended their team-leading hitting streaks to seven games – with Cook finishing 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and three runs scored and Cerniglia going 1-for-3 with two walks and a pair of runs.
 
The Kangaroos were led by junior center fielder Travis Schindler (West Islip, N.Y.) who finished the game going 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Junior Trevor Keleher (Potsdam, N.Y.) scored the other run for SUNY Canton.
 
Sophomore Danny Hayden (East Greenwich, R.I.) pitched a gem for the Bison. He threw eight innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out seven. Freshman Brodie Altiere (North Adams, Mass.) came on to pitch the scoreless last inning – striking out two Kangaroos in the process.
 
SUNY Canton sent five pitchers to the rubber with the loss going to sophomore Jake Vierno (Massena, N.Y.) who allowed five runs (all earned) on eight hits and three walks.
 
All-Time Series
This was the first meeting all-time between the Bison and the Kangaroos with Nichols now leading the all-time series at, 1-0.
 
Next Games
SUNY Canton (0-6) – Saturday, March 18 vs Susquehanna in Snowbird Classic in Punta Gorda, Fla., 1:00 p.m.
Nichols (5-3) –Friday, March 17 vs Denison in Snowbird Classic Port Charlotte, Fla., 4:00 p.m.