LEWISTON, Maine -- The visiting Nichols College Bison scored four runs in the top of the ninth to defeat the Bates baseball team 7-3 Sunday afternoon in a non-conference game at Leahey Field. 

With two outs and a runner on first, the Bison (14-15-1) chased Bates sophomore reliever Jack Potash (Weston, Conn.) from the game when Isaac Blanford drew the second walk of the inning, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. New pitcher junior Sam Hough (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y) was greeted by a DJ Caron triple to dead center, scoring two runs and putting the Bison up 5-3. Caron scored on a wild pitch and Nathaniel Cormier followed with a double off the top of the fence in center. Johnny Knox doubled down the left field line to score Cormier and the visitors led 7-3.

Nichols reliever Kyle McCutcheon (1-2) sent the Bobcats (6-22) down in order in the bottom of the ninth, clinching the win for the Bison.

Prior to the four-run ninth inning, the two teams played to a 3-3 standstill through eight frames of action.

The Bobcats got on the board in the bottom of the third against Nichols starter Sean Ryan. First-year Ben Gesmondi (Portsmouth, R.I.) singled to center leading off the inning. One out later, senior Antonio Jareno (Marietta, Ga.) reached on an infield single and Gesmondi scored on the play when the throw to first got away, putting Bates up 1-0. The Bobcats loaded the bases with two outs, but Ryan escaped without any further damage. Bates left nine on base in the contest.

Senior Jared Pantalony (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and sophomore Luke Linnehan (Hingham, Mass.) both tossed a pair of shutout innings to start the game for the Bobcats. 

The Bison picked up an unearned run in the top of the fifth against Bates senior captain Braden Karess (Boxborough, Mass.) by using some small ball. Will Kleinhenz reached on an infield single to start the frame and moved to second on a wild pitch. One out later, Brad Ellis reached on a Bates error and Kleinhenz advanced to third on the play. Then Andrew Croteau executed a suicide squeeze, driving in Kleinhenz and tying the game at one. 

Bates took the lead again in the bottom of the fifth. Jareno reached on another infield single and junior Henry Jamieson (St. Simons Island, Ga.) singled to right-center. Pinch runner sophomore Jack Brennan (West Hartford, Conn.) raced all the way around from first on the play, scoring on his "mad dash" to put the Bobcats up 2-1. 

After playing small ball in the fifth, the Bison played long ball in the sixth when Cormier launched a solo home run to left-center, tying the game at two.

First-year Ian McAslan (Baltimore, Md.) tossed a scoreless seventh inning before the Bison grabbed the lead against Potash (0-2) in the eighth. 

With two away, Knox tripled to right-center. Brennan Hyde singled him home and Nichols led 3-2.

This time, Bates rallied. Brennan walked leading off the bottom of the eighth and two outs later, senior Bryan Gotti (Westwood, Mass.) drew a walk as well, putting runners at first and second. Senior captain Kevin Lucey (Topsfield, Mass.) came up huge, delivering an RBI single to center, evening the score at three apiece. 

The Bobcats had a chance to grab the lead again, but left the bases loaded for the third time on the day. Then the Bison made them pay with their big top of the ninth. 

Bates drew six walks but only tallied six hits in the contest. Jareno and Jamieson recorded two hits each. Nichols finished with 10 hits, led by Cormier who went 3-5 with two doubles and a home run. 

Ryan picked up a no-decision for Nichols, throwing 115 pitches over six and a third innings. He allowed two runs on five hits while striking out six. 

The Bobcats are back in action Tuesday when they host Tufts in NESCAC action at 3:30pm.