DUDLEY, Mass. (April 14, 2026) – Down 13-5 in the eighth inning, the Western New England baseball team put up an 11-spot on the scoreboard to take a three-run lead, but the hosting Bison of Nichols College tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, and walked off in the bottom of the tenth to take a 17-16 CNE victory.

Records:

• Western New England: 12-16, 5-5 CNE
• Nichols College: 14-11, 6-4 CNE

How it Happened:

First Inning:

• After the WNE offense was set down in order in the top of the first inning, the Bison got off to a roaring start on Aiden Bisaillon, who surrendered three hits and four runs, to give the Bison a 4-0 lead early. Kyle Birks and Brady Wendell delivered the two big hits for Nichols in the inning, with Birks coming up with an RBI double, while Wendell added two runs on one swing with a two-RBI single.

Second Inning:

• The Golden Bears, down 4-0 for the second straight game in the first inning, bounced back in the second inning after Corey Kilroy led the inning off with a single, while Jack Gamache delivered a two-out RBI single back up the middle off Andrew Rocca to put Western New England on the scoreboard. 
• The Bison responded in the bottom of the inning with three more hits and two more runs to take a 6-1 lead over the Golden Bears. Collin Harty's two-RBI single was the biggest hit in the inning. 

Third Inning:

• WNE came back for two runs in the top of the third inning to get within three. Connor Cowern and Leo Paragarino led off the inning with hits for the Golden Bears, while Tyler Waterbury's RBI single scored one to get the Golden Bears within four. WNE was doubled off following, but a dropped fly ball in the outfield off the bat of Corey Kilroy scored another in the inning as the Golden Bears trailed by three, 6-3, after the top of the frame. 
• Nichols responded in the bottom of the inning for two more runs when Ben White picked up a two-RBI single, as the Bison continued to respond to Western New England's runs. The Bison took an 8-3 lead after three innings. 

Fourth Inning:

• Mark Zigmont opened the top of the fourth inning with a single, and came around to score on an infield error from the Bison after Connor Cowern's ground ball was booted by the Bison to score a run, trailing 8-4. 

Fifth Inning:

• The Golden Bears added another run in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Jack Gamache. Western New England trailed 8-5 after five innings of play, after Jack Lewis threw up a pair of zeros on the scoreboard on the mound. 

Sixth Inning:

• Nichols dropped their third two-run inning in the bottom of the sixth to take a five-run lead back as Kyle Birks came through again for the Bison with a two-RBI single, seeing Nichols lead 10-5 after six innings. 

Seventh Inning:

• The Bison added three runs on two hits in the seventh inning as Charles Maclehiney reached on a fielder's choice, while Birks did more damage for Nichols with another two-RBI single, giving the Bison a 13-5 lead after seven innings. 

Eighth Inning:

• Down eight heading into the eighth, the Golden Bears came alive in the top of the eighth frame. Connor Cowern and Leo Paragarino took one-out walks each, followed by a single by Tyler Waterbury to load the bases. Ryan Montini came through with a grand slam to get WNE back within four, 13-9. WNE wasn't done there as Tyler Kornacki reached on an error with two outs, followed by a Mark Zigmont RBI double, as WNE trailed 13-10. Jack Gamache legged out an infield single to get Western New England within two, 13-11. Western New England then picked up back-to-back hits, Noah Schermerhorn and Connor Cowern picking up singles, while Leo Paragarino singled to center field to score two as the Golden Bears came all the way back to tie the game at 13. With two on and two out, WNE's Tyler Waterbury broke the tie and gave the Golden Bears a 16-13 lead, launching his third home run of the season, seeing Western New England come all the way back from down eight in the inning to take a three-run lead after the top of the eighth inning. 
• Connor Slifer came into the game in the bottom of the frame and saw Nichols' Ryan Keating go yard to cut WNE's lead down to two, 16-14.  Jason Pinsonnault came into the game for Western New England and picked up two strikeouts to end the Nichols threat. 

Ninth Inning:

• Nichols bounced back in the bottom of the ninth with two outs to come away with a two-RBI single to tie the game as Ryan Keating notched his fourth hit for the Bison of the game to tie the game at 16 after nine innings. 

Tenth Inning:

• Western New England got into trouble in the bottom of the tenth inning as Kyle Welsh walked a pair of batters before hitting another to load the bases with one out. Welsh then gave up his third walk of the game as Nichols scored the game-winning run to walk the game off with a 17-16 win. 

Inside the Lines:

• An 11-run eighth inning brought Western New England back from eight runs down to take a three-run lead, but the Bison scored in eight of the ten innings, including two in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, and walked the game off in the bottom of the tenth to win it, 17-16. 
• The game featured 33 runs, 39 hits, and nine errors between the two teams. 
• Leo Paragarino led WNE with four hits in five at-bats, scoring three runs and picking up two RBIs. 
• Tyler Waterbury had three hits and four RBIs, hitting his third home run of the season. Mark Zigmont, Jack Gamache, Noah Schermerhorn, and Connor Cowern all had two hits each. 
• Ryan Keating led the Bison with four hits in six at-bats, picking up a double, a home run, and three RBIs. Kyle Birks went 3-for-6 at the plate, collecting five RBIs. 
• Western New England is now 9-7 at Nichols all-time, and has 22 wins in 26 games at home over the Bison. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will look to bounce back with a non-conference game against Elms College on Wednesday, April 15 at 3:30 PM at Trelease Park.