DUDLEY, Mass. (5/1/2024) – The Nichols College baseball team scored six runs in the first two innings and didn't look back as they cruised to a 7-3 win over Wesleyan University on Wednesday afternoon from the Nichols Baseball Field. The Bison have won eight straight games for the first time all season.
Senior Andrew Croteau led the way for the Bison, going 3-4 and adding two RBI. Teammate Ben Jerome also added two RBI and so did sophomore Liam Flynn. Senior Johnny Knox topped another category in the record book, as he hit his 68th hit of the season. This passed Cam Cook, who set the record in 2016 with 67 hits.
Knox, senior Brennan Hyde and graduate student Will Kleinhenz all singled before Croteau singled in Hyde from second base to open the scoring. Flynn then doubled to right center, scoring Kleinhenz and Croteau, for a 3-0 Bison lead after the first inning.
Nichols added three more runs in the bottom of the second inning. Junior Taj Vera Cruz walked and sophomore Dylan Moran then doubled to put runners on second and third. Jerome then singled done the right field line and scored both Vera Cruz and Moran. A single off the bat of Croteau with two outs, made it 6-0 Nichols as he scored Jerome.
The Cardinals scored three runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth inning to cut into the Bison lead. Nichols scored their seventh run of the game in the fifth inning off the bat of Knox. Knox scored Moran on a single through the left side.
Freshman Jaden Mwangi started the game and threw 4.0 innings, while striking out four batters and allowing two runs in the game. Junior Nolan Sullivan (3-1) earned the win with a 1.0 inning performance and allowed one hit. Teammate Patrick Doyle earned his second save of the season, while throwing 4.0 innings and allowing one hit in that span.
Nichols (29-9) will honor their five seniors on Sunday, May 5, against Wheaton College. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.