AMCAT Baseball Nips Bison, 2-1

Worcester, Mass. – The Anna Maria College baseball team downed Nichols College 2-1 in non-conference action in a weather induced 5 inning game at Quinsigamond Community College. With their third consecutive win the AMCATS climb closer to the .500 mark and now sit at 6-11 (0-2 GNAC) while the Bison drop to 3-12 (0-2 TCCC) on the season.

Senior Kevin Wodatch (Wallingford, CT) took to the mound for the AMCATS and earned his second win of the season. The hurler struck out six Bison over five complete innings, allowing just one run on three hits. Senior Padraig Gilman (Leominster, MA) collected the only AMCAT hit and RBI on the cold and blustery day.

Freshman Joseph Nicolace (Cranston, RI) pitched four innings for the Bison allowing just an earned run  on one hit, while striking out and walking three AMCATS in the loss. Ryan McLane (Wallingford, CT) pitched the fifth inning for Nichols in relief. Sophomore Brett Franciosi (Leominster, MA) had the only extra-base hit on the day, delivering a double while Bryan Gill (New Hyde Park, NY) and Greg Poll (East Granby, CT) each collected singles for Nichols.

Anna Maria notched two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Wodatch led off the inning with a walk and after a Joe McNeil (Sutton, MA) pop-up, swiped second base. Senior Mike Guarnieri (Wallingford, CT) drew the second walk of the inning to put AMCATS on first and second. Pat Gilman then delivered a line drive single through the left side to plate Wodatch, however Guarnieri was caught in a rundown for the second out of the inning. Nichols seemed to be out of the inning when freshman Andrew Montiverdi (Worcester, MA) grounded to Bison first-baseman Gill, but Gill put a little too much mustard on the underhand pitch to Nicolace covering the bag leaving Montiverdi safe. Gilman hustling around the bags scored on the play for the 2-0 advantage.

Nichols cut the lead in half in the fourth inning, Franciosi laced a double to left center and Poll singled to left field to put Bison on the corners with one out. Senior Anthony Benvenuti dropped a well placed sacrifice bunt to score Franciosi. Wodatch retired the last Nichols batter to end the rally.

The game was called after five innings when the weather conditions became unplayable.

Anna Maria returns to action tomorrow when they host Rivier University at 2:00pm at New Balance Field in Worcester for a GNAC doubleheader.