NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salve Regina University baseball team split a doubleheader with Nichols College in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action Saturday afternoon – taking Game 2 after dropping Game 1.

Game One: Nichols 4, Salve Regina 2 (7 innings)

Senior Joseph Nicolace (Cranston, R.I.) – the reigning CCC Pitcher of the Week – improved to 4-1 on the year after allowing just one run on 8 hits while walking one and striking out six. Sophomore Kevin Kirley (Clinton, Mass.)earned his conference-leading fourth save of the season. Junior Cory Poplawski (Syracuse, N.Y.) took the loss after allowing four runs through a complete game effort on seven hits while striking out seven.

The Bison got off to a fast start scoring three runs in the first inning including an RBI-double from sophomore Nick Roy (Middletown, Conn.) that plated juniorMatt Hardy (North Attleboro, Mass.).

Senior Benjamin Harrow (North Reading, Mass.) also drove in a run on the game along with sophomore Ross Caswell (Randolph, Vt.). Sophomore Cam Cook (Phoenixville, Pa.) paced the Bison going 2-for-3 with an RBI-single in the fifth inning and a run scored.

Reigning CCC Player of the Year, sophomore Alex Perry (North Attleboro, Mass.) finished the game 4-for-4 with a run scored while freshman Zack Smith (New Canaan, Conn.) drove in a run in the seventh inning to close out the scoring in the game.

Game Two: Salve Regina 4, Nichols 0 (7 innings)  

Sophomore Billy Humes (East Rockaway, N.Y.) pitched a complete game shutout for Salve Regina as the Seahawks bounced back to take Game 2 from the Bison. Humes allowed just three hits while walking six and striking out five. Junior Adam Rigney (Niantic, Conn.) tossed 6.0 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits in the loss.

The top three hitters for the Seahawks – senior Ryan Kelly (Waldwick, N.J.), sophomore John Militano (Miller Place, N.Y.) and Perry – combined for seven hits. Militano and Kelly scored two runs apiece to make up the scoring in the game.

The Bison saw hits from Hardy, sophomore Brendan Martin (Nashua, N.H.), and freshman Joe Assenza (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.). Nichols was shutout for the first time since April 4th last season against Endicott.

All-Time Series

The Bison are now 2-5 against the Seahawks under third-year head coach Nick Puccio.

Next Games

Nichols (9-9, 1-1 CCC) – Sunday, April 10 vs Wentworth, 12:00 p.m.
Salve Regina (7-8-1, 1-1 CCC) – Sunday, April 10 vs Curry, 12:00 p.m.