SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 9, 2024) – The Western New England baseball team grabbed their first win in Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Tuesday afternoon, taking a 6-1 win over the visiting Bison of Nichols College from Trelease Park. John Bova collected three hits for the Golden Bears in the win, while Jared Kuryan put together another outstanding start for Western New England.

Records:

• Western New England: 9-10, 1-2 CCC
• Nichols College: 14-8, 2-5 CCC

How it Happened:

Western New England wasted little time to get on the scoreboard first, grabbing the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. All coming with two outs in the inning, WNE would do damage after an error by the Bison first baseman on a pop-up by Cody Waterbury would extend the inning. Jack Loftus would move Waterbury over to second base, while Sean Jamieson's RBI single into right field would score the Golden Bears first run of the game, giving Western New England a 1-0 lead. Jared Kuryan would escape a jam in the top of the second inning when the Bison would place a runner on third base with two outs, though the senior starter would get a strikeout looking over the outside corner to set the Bison down.

The Bison would score a run in the top of the third inning after Ben Jerome singled to center field to score Johnny Knox, giving the Bison their first run of the day evening the score at one. That would be all the Bison would get after again; Nichols would place a runner on third with two out, though the Golden Bears starter would sit down the final batter of the inning. Western New England would respond in the bottom of the third inning to get their one-run lead back after Paul Villecco would walk while Jhn Bova collected his first hit of the afternoon with a double to right center, moving Villeccoto third. Cody Waterbury sent a long fly ball to left field in his at-bat, deep enough to score Villecco, giving WNE a 2-1 lead.

The middle innings would see neither team come around with a run as a pitcher's duel began to develop between Jared Kuryan and Nichols College's starter, John Steed. The last batter Steed would face would come in the bottom of the seventh inning, which would be by Trey Young, who led off the inning with a triple to center field, chasing Steed from the game and allowing Western New England to get to the Bison bullpen. Ryan Montini would record a pinch-hit RBI single to score Young, giving Western New England a 3-1 lead. The Golden Bears were not done from there, adding two more runs in the inning when John Bova notched an RBI single up the middle while Cody Waterbury continued to deliver on the offensive end, collecting a single through the left side of the diamond to give the Golden Bears a 5-1 lead after seven innings of play.

In the eighth, Troy Donohue would see the first two Bison reach, putting runners on second and third with no outs, though the senior relief pitcher would set down the Bison, including grabbing an important 5-3 double play to end the eighth inning and end the Nichols threat. Aaron Cole added an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning for Western New England, giving the Golden Bears a 6-1 lead, while Donohue would lock down the top of the ninth for Western New England to earn the Golden Bears their first CCC win on home field, defeating Nichols by a final score of 6-1.

Inside the Diamond:

• John Bova went 3/5 at the plate this afternoon, grabbing an RBI in the win.
• Cody Waterbury had a hit in the game while collecting two RBIs for the Golden Bears.
• Jared Kuryan tossed seven innings for Western New England, giving up eight hits though just one run while walking one and striking out three, tossing 88 pitches.
• Andrew Croteau led Nichols with three hits in three plate attempts, part of Nichols ten hits on the afternoon.
• Nichols left eight runners on base in the loss.
• WNE pitching rolled three double plays in the win to limit Nichols' damage.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears are back in action on Wednesday, April 10, at 3:30 p.m.