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Box Score 2
DUDLEY, Mass.--Sophomore right-hander
Trevor Breton threw a no-hitter in the first game of a Commonwealth Coast Conference baseball doubleheader on Saturday to set the tone for a Western New England road sweep over Nichols, 7-0 and 11-4, at Bison Field. The Golden Bears have won a season-high seven consecutive games to improve to 13-5 overall and 4-0 in the CCC, while the Bison slip to 3-15 and 0-4 in the league.
Breton threw 86 pitches to earn the complete-game win (2-1), striking out nine and walking two as he faced just one over the minimum of 21 batters. He becomes the first WNE hurler to toss a "no-no" since 2005, when Jason Connelly shut down Norwich in a rain-shortened five-inning game.
"Trevor was dominant today. It took us awhile to generate some offense, so Trevor really carried us," Western New England coach Matt LaBranche said. "Usually, no-hitters are marked by outstanding defensive plays, but not this afternoon because Nichols wasn't able to find a barrel once in this game."
Senior
Mike Rubino gave Breton the only offense he would need with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third. The Golden Bears plated three runs in each of the sixth and seventh frames to get some breathing room.
Junior
Jeff Schult led WNE at the plate by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Senior co-captain
Matt Anthonis, junior
Steve Ambrosino and sophomore
Steve Buckley added two hits apiece as part of a 12-hit attack. Ambrosino had two runs batted in on a fielder's choice and double, while senior
Taylor Perun chipped in a two-run single.
In the nightcap, freshman catcher
Tim Budd had his best performance so far in his WNE career with three hits (2 doubles), three runs scored and three RBI. He had a two-run single to spark a three-run second inning as the Golden Bears never looked back after that.
Anthonis rapped three more hits, Rubino recorded a pair of hits and four RBI, and senior co-captain
Tim Clark also had two hits. The Golden Bears had 13 as a team.
Freshman
Tom Mahoney earned his second victory in three decisions, scattering six hits in 4-2/3 innings of work. He allowed two runs and no walks, but he struck out four.
"We are at the point in the season where we will have to go to our fifth starter (in the pitching rotation) on a more regular basis," said LaBranche. "Tommy's performance on the mound in the second game was encouraging. He gave us a chance to put some runs up for him early by putting zeros in the first few innings.
"We also got a breakout performance from another rookie by
Tim Budd. He's had some tough luck at the plate, so it was great to see him deliver some timely hits today."