Box Score (Game 1)


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Freshman pitcher Kevin Jefferis (Cheshire, CT) fired a two-hitter as the Western New England College baseball team blanked Nichols 4-0 in the second game of a doubleheader Sunday (March 28) at chilly Trelease Park.

The visiting Bison captured the opener 3-1 behind the complete game effort by senior Joe Atchue (Grafton, MA) who tossed a complete game six-hitter.

Western New England College is now 10-4 and 2-2 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference. Nichols is 7-7 and 3-1 in the league.

Jefferis struck out seven and walked only one in raising his record to 2-0 with his second shutout of the season. He also threw a seven-inning two-hitter in a 10-0 win over Brockport on March 16 in Chandler, Arizona.

Junior third baseman Tony Trubia (Tolland, CT) had two hits, including a two-run single in the third.

The Golden Bears scored their third run on a throwing error and run-scoring single by senior shortstop Justin Walz (Groton, CT) in the fourth inning. Senior center fielder Steve Kearney (Glastonbury, CT) walked twice and scored both times.

Junior JC LeBarron (Bennington, VT) (1-1) took the loss.

In the first game, Nichols turned three double plays in support of Atchue who picked-up his first win of the season in three decisions. He scattered six hits, fanned four, and walked two.

WNEC took a 1-0 lead in the first on a double by freshman second baseman Mike Rubino (Northford, CT) and RBI single by Trubia. Walz also singled twice in the game.

Nichols came right back with two runs (one earned) in the second with a two-run single by junior shortstop Mathew Whitman (North Plainfield, NJ) the big hit. Junior first baseman Austin Martin (Wakefield, RI) knocked in the final run with a RBI single in the seventh.

Junior right fielder Zac Johnson (Wakefield, RI) went 3-for-4 for the Bison.

Sophomore Mark DiTommaso (Hebron, CT) pitched well despite the loss giving up eight hits with five strikeouts and only one walk.

Senior first baseman Joe Griglun (Southington, CT) and junior designated hitter Ryan Dudzinski (Bristol, CT) singled in each game for the Golden Bears.