Seahawks sweep Bison to clinch spot in postseason

DUDLEY, Mass. – Freshman Spencer Madden (Nashua, N.H.) reached base five times and drove in two runs on the day as the Nichols College baseball team dropped both ends of the doubleheader against Salve Regina in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action Saturday afternoon.

The Seahawks (20-14, 8-8 CCC) scored nine runs in each game to take care of the Bison who fall to 5-18-1 on the year and 2-11-1 in conference-play.

Game 1 – Salve Regina 9, Nichols 2

Salve Regina scored early and often in the opening game of the day to defeat Nichols 9-2. Senior Kyle Pheland (North Scituate, R.I.) earned his team-leading third win of the season after tossing six innings and allowing only two runs (both earned) on six hits while walking three and striking out two.

Freshmen John Militano (Miller Place, N.Y.) and David Neil (Randolph, Mass.) each went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI's and a run scored to lead the Seahawks to their seventh win in a row.

Sophomore Matt Hardy (North Attleboro, Mass.) paced the Bison with two hits while freshmen Jonny Doyon (Meriden, Conn.) and Brendan Martin (Nashua, N.H.) each drove in a run.

The Seahawks got on the board first in the top of the second inning. After the Bison got two quick outs senior Daniel Donohue (Westbury, N.Y.) lined a single to center field to keep the inning going.

Following a walk by freshman Christian Vargas (Melbourne, Fla.), sophomore Cory Blankmeyer (Centerport, N.Y.) reached on an error by Martin that scored Donohue. Militano followed that up with a double down the left field line, scoring both Vargas and Blankmeyer. That hit proved to be the game-winner as the Bison were only able to grab two runs back.

Freshman Vincent Amato (Brooklyn, N.Y.) took his fourth loss of the year after allowing six runs (one earned) through 5.1 innings of work while giving up six hits and walking one and striking out one.

Game 2 – Salve Regina 9, Nichols 5

The Seahawks had five different student-athletes with two hits including Neil and freshman Alex Perry (North Attleboro, Mass.) who each had two RBI as they defeated the Bison 9-5 in Game 2 of the doubleheader to reach the 20-win plateau for the third consecutive season.

Madden went 2-for-3 with two RBI's and a run scored while freshmen Nick Roy (Middletown, Conn.) and Ross Caswell (Randolph, Vt.) along with junior Benjamin Harrow (North Reading, Mass.) each drove in a run to lead the Bison.

The Seahawks sent five pitchers to the hill while the Bison sent six but it was both starting pitchers that factored in the decision. Sophomore Cory Poplawski (Syracuse, N.Y.) gave up three runs in four innings while allowing seven hits, walking none, and striking out one to move to 3-1 on the season.

Freshman Jake Perkins (Danville, N.H.) took the loss after allowing five runs (all earned) on seven hits through 1.1 innings of work.

The Seahawks put the game out of reach with a four-run fourth inning. Perry and Donohue both had RBI-singles in the inning to stretch the lead to 9-3.

The Bison made it interesting with RBI-singles from Roy and Madden to bring the game to within four runs. Nichols had the bases loaded with two outs and the potential tying run at the plate when freshman Nick Osma (Babylon, N.Y.) hit a screamer down the third base line that was snagged by senior third baseman Joe Haley (North Kingstown, R.I.) to end the game.

The Bison are back in action Sunday at 12 p.m. as the play host to Clark (MA) for the last two homes games of the year. The Seahawks host Bridgewater State on Monday at 3:30 p.m.