BABSON PARK, Mass. – Babson College defeated the visiting Roger Williams University Baseball team, 10-2, in a non-conference contest at Govoni Field on Thursday.
Junior Trevor Boyce (Canton, Mass.) went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs and senior Joe Nixon (Foxboro, Mass.) tied a program record with four stolen bases. With the win, the Beavers moved back over the .500 mark at 11-10, while the Hawks dipped to 6-18 on the year.
Batting 1-2 in the lineup, Nixon and Boyce wreaked havoc all afternoon for Babson. Although Nixon officially went 0-for-2, he reached base three times - twice on walks and again when he was hit by a pitch. The senior outfielder scored on each occasion, thanks to a school record-tying four stolen bases, including a theft of home on a double-steal with Boyce in the sixth. The only other player in program history with four steals in a game was Jay Verrill '08, who accomplished the feat against WPI back on April 19, 2005.
Also enjoying a big day for Babson was Boyce, who recorded an RBI-hit in the third and a two-run single in the seventh as part of a 4-for-4 effort. Junior Chris Kucher (Westwood, Mass.) added a 2-for-4 showing with his second home run of the season to go with three RBIs, and junior Michael Duffy (Milton, Mass.) finished 3-for-5 with a run scored. With the Beavers' short on arms for the non-league contest, junior Steve Shaddock (Milford, Mass.) came up with a huge start for the Green and White, going seven strong innings and allowing just two runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out four. The win was the first of his collegiate career as he moved to 1-0 on the season.
Senior Trevor Manzi (Beverly, Mass.) was the lone player with multiple hits for Roger Williams, going 2-for-3. Sophomore Eric Bransfield (Lynn, Mass.) added a solo home run for the Hawks, while classmate Mike Pascarella (Milford, Conn.) also knocked in a run. The first of four Roger Williams pitchers, sophomore starter Dan Julian (Stratford, Conn.) fell to 0-4 with the loss after allowing three earned runs and striking out six in three innings of work.
The Beavers took control early, as an infield single by senior captain Travis Jonasson (Needham, Mass.) coupled with a throwing error allowed Nixon and Boyce to score in the bottom of the first. Bransfield put his team on the board with a solo homer to center in the top of the second, but the Beavers plated three more in the third - one on Boyce's RBI-single and two more on Kucher's home run to right - to build a 5-1 lead.
Kucher drove in another run with a single in the fourth, Nixon stole both second and home in the sixth, and, after Pascarella knocked in sophomore Mike Thomas (Plainville, Conn.) for the Hawk's second run of the day in the top of the seventh, Boyce plated a pair with a single in the bottom of the inning to push Babson's advantage to 9-2. The Beavers then capped the scoring in the eighth, as first-year catcher Joe Zanca (Braintree, Mass.) knocked in Jonasson with a single to left.
Entering the game with a man on in the top of the eighth, Beavers' sophomore Zachary Price (Franklin, Mass.) got the final six outs of the game as Babson finished off the 10-2 victory.
- Release courtesy of the Babson College Sports Information Department
