Lippert Drives in Four as Baseball Rallies for 7-6 Victory over Nichols
Dudley, Mass. – The Framingham State University baseball team won their second game in as many days as the Rams defeated Nichols College 7-6 in non-conference action this afternoon. The Rams and the Bison met earlier this season with the Bison earning a 7-6 victory on March 3rd.
The Bison drop to 7-16 overall and return to Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Salve Regina University for a doubleheader scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. The Rams improve to 11-11 overall with the win and resume MASCAC action on Saturday with a doubleheader at Worcester State.
Senior Nick Roy led the Bison offense, going 2-for-5 with an RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base. Roy was also excellent in the field, robbing a pair of homeruns from the Rams. Freshman Nathaniel Cormier went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while senior Cam Cook added a 2-for-4 day with an RBI.
Sophomore Christian Naccari and senior Chris Anderson each went 1-for-3 with a run scored, while sophomore Kyle Bouchard picked up the final hit for the Bison while going 1-for-5.
Junior Kyle Lippert was the difference-maker at the plate for the Rams as he went 3-for-4, including the go-ahead three-run homerun in the eighth, to drive in four runs on the day and score twice. Junior Matt Fogarty went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, while sophomore Anthony Venuti was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
Junior Alex Erwin picked up the win in relief for the Rams, giving up one unearned run with a walk and a strikeout in 1.1 innings of work. Freshman Adam Wojenski picked up his first career save, giving up one hit and one walk with two strikeouts in pitching the eighth and ninth innings.
Naccari picked up the start on the mound for the Bison, allowing one unearned run on three hits with a strikeout in three innings of work. Sophomore Steven Lockwood followed, allowing three runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout in two innings, while freshman Robert Cobb give up only one hit with strikeouts in his two innings.
The Rams struck first in the top of the third as Lippert singled to lead off the inning, then stole second, and moved to third when Roy robbed sophomore Bobby Higgins of a homerun in centerfield. With two outs in the inning, Venuti stepped in and slipped a single up the middle to put the Rams in front, 1-0.
Nichols took advantage of a Framingham State miscue in their half of the third as Cormier singled to lead off the inning, and he later scored after a bunt single from Cook turned into a throwing error by the Rams tying the game at 1-1.
Framingham State plated two runs in the fourth as Lippert drove in a pair with a single up the middle to push the FSU lead to 3-1. They tacked on another in the fifth as junior Aaron Williams got into a run down, allowing Venuti to steal home on the play and make it a 4-1 lead.
The Bison started their comeback in the bottom of the fifth as Cook dropped a single into right field that Williams tried to dive and make a play on, but the ball got away, allowing Roy to score and cut the deficit in half.
In the sixth, Assenza sacrificed Anderson and Naccari into scoring position and Naccari would come in to score on an RBI groundout by sophomore Christopher Cerniglia. The Bison loaded the bases on a hit batsman and a walk, and Roy followed with an infield single that plated Anderson, while an errant throw from the shortstop allowed freshman Alexander Stroshine to also score on the play and put the Bison in front 5-4.
With two outs in the seventh, Assenza was able to reach on an error and moved into scoring position when he stole second. The junior was able to swipe third, and the throw from the catcher sailed into leftfield, allowing Assenza to beat the throw home and put the Bison in front 6-4.
Unfortunately for the Bison, the lead would be short-lived as the first two Rams to bat in the eighth would reach base against White. Tarquinio would come on in relief, and Lippert greeted him with a homerun to right center that plated three runs and put Framingham State back in front, 7-6.
Nichols would get baserunners in both the eighth and ninth innings, but Wojenski avoided any trouble to help the visitors hang on for the one-run victory.
Release courtesy of Nichols Sports Information