Baseball Suffers Second 1-0 Loss of Season, Leave Seven on Base

DUDLEY, Mass. (April 25, 2023) – The Western New England baseball team dropped an important CCC contest on Tuesday afternoon to the hosting Bison of Nichols College after pounding out just four hits, tied for a season low on the year. 

Records:

• Western New England: 20-8-2, 6-4-1 CCC
• Nichols College: 14-18, 8-4 CCC

Pitching Records:

W: Richard Pignone: 5-0

L: Jacob Hobart: 3-3

How it Happened:

Nichols College picked up the first hit of the game in the bottom of the second after the first three half innings sat down in order as Western New England would struggle to grab a base hit off Nichols College SP Chase Rancourt. Aaron Cole would grab a single in the third inning, the only hit Western New England would grab off Rancourt, though would fail to advance a base as the Bison defense would shut down the chance for WNE. 

Nichols would get on the board first in the bottom of the third inning after Johnny Knox would be walked, steal a base, and come all the way around on an RBI single up the middle by Jim Marasco, all with two outs, giving the Bison a 1-0 lead. Western New England SP Jacob Hobart would lock it in from there, allowing just two base runners further through seven innings of play.

Western New England would lead off the top of the sixth with a single to left field, followed by a walk to John Bova and a SAC bunt by Paul Villecco, putting running on second and third with just one out. After CJ Willis was intentionally walked, Western New England would be unable to score, including on a ruled foul ball that went over the right field fences on a hit by Sean Jamieson, as Western New England would be without a run through six innings of play, stranding three runners on base. 

The Golden Bears would load the bases again in the eighth inning after Aaron Cole led off with a single while Paul Villecco would double to center field, again placing two runners on with just one out. WNE would again fail to cross a runner to the plate, leaving another three runners on base in the inning.  Nichols relief pitcher Patrick Sawyer would send WNE down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth as Western New England would suffer their second 1-0 loss in CCC play. 

Around the Horn:

• Aaron Cole collected three hits in three plate attempts, collecting three of the four hits on the day for WNE. 
• SP Jacob Hobart went the first seven innings giving up four hits and one run while walking one and striking out five. 
• Nichols College would strike out eight Golden Bears on the day while allowing just four hits between three pitchers. 
• Jim Marasco would collect the lone RBI in the win for Nichols. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England looks to bounce back tomorrow, Wednesday, April 26 at 3:30 PM as they host Dean College. WNE will play Gordon College on Saturday, April 29 as they look to bounce back in CCC play.