Baseball Squeezes Past Nichols 8-7 in MS4MS Awareness Game, Wednesday Afternoon

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) baseball team concluded its three-game homestand with an 8-7 victory over Nichols College (Nichols) in the team's annual MS4MS Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Game on Wednesday afternoon at the USJ Baseball Field. With the win, the Blue Jays improve to 3-0, marking the first time in program history the team has opened a season with three straight victories. With the loss, the Bison begin their 2026 campaign 0-1.   

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Nichols struck first in the top of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Julian Galvan.
• USJ answered immediately in the bottom half of the frame. Senior outfielder Dom Scalia (Northford, Conn.) continued his strong start to the season with a two-run triple to right-center field, giving the Blue Jays a 2-1 advantage. Freshman infielder Sam Balducci (South Windsor, Conn.) followed with an RBI to score Scalia and extend the lead to 3-1.
• The Blue Jays added to their lead in the third inning when Scalia and sophomore infielder Jack Kane (West Hartford, Conn.) both scored on wild pitches to make it 5-1.
• USJ pushed the lead to 6-1 in the fourth after junior outfielder Joseph Fritz (Tampa, Fla.) lined an RBI double into the left-center gap, scoring senior outfielder Ryan Quinn (Middletown, Conn.).
• Nichols responded in the top of the fifth, capitalizing on a defensive miscue that led to two runs to cut the deficit to 6-3.
• USJ answered in the bottom of the inning as junior outfielder Ben Balducci (South Windsor, Conn.) delivered a two-run double to right-center field, extending the Blue Jays' lead to 8-3.
• The Bison mounted a comeback in the sixth, scoring four runs highlighted by a three-run home run from Charles Macelhiney to trim the deficit to 8-7
• Nichols' rally would come up just short. Sophomore pitcher Marcus Tarfano (Southington, Conn.) entered with runners on second and third and no outs and worked out of the jam to secure the 8-7 victory for the Blue Jays.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Sophomore pitcher Aaron LaRose (Williston, Vt.) got the start and the win for the Blue Jays on the mound, firing five innings allowing five hits, three earned runs and striking out four.
• Scalia and B. Balducci paced the offense, each recording two hits and two RBIs.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays head south for their annual spring break trip to Florida, where they will face Mount St. Joseph in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 8. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with the second game set to begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the opener.

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