SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Second-seeded Western New England College scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back in rolling to a 15-3 victory over seventh-seeded Nichols in an opening round game of The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) Baseball Tournament Tuesday (April 28) at Trelease Park.

The Golden Bears, who placed second in the league during the regular season, improved their record to 26-14.

Sophomore third baseman Tony Trubia (Tolland, CT) had two singles and a double, scored three times, and knocked in a run to pace the 15-hit attack.

Sophomore second baseman Andrew Fatse (Hampden, MA) collected three hits with two runs scored and a run-batted-in.

Freshman catcher Jason Leclerc (Chicopee, MA) conributed a pair of hits with a run scored and RBI.

Freshman designated player Matt Fleishman (East Northport, NY) provided the long ball with a three-run homer in the sixth that gave WNEC a 9-0 advantage.

Nichols (16-19) scored twice in the sixth before the Golden Bears broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of the inning.

Sophomore right fielder Zachary Johnson (Wakefield, RI) led the Bison with two hits and two runs scored. Sophomore third baseman Joshua Clark (Brunswick, ME) also had a pair of hits along with a RBI.

Western New England College will host third-seeded Roger Williams at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday (April 29) in the second round of the double elimination tournament.

Nichols will visit sixth-seeded Wentworth in an elimination game Wednesday.