Knights sweep three from Quinsigamond to open conference play

Haverhill, MA (April 2, 2022) – The Northern Essex Community College baseball team opened up conference play this weekend with a three game sweep of Quinsigamond Community College with a single game on Friday night in Haverhill followed by a sweep Saturday afternoon in Worcester. With the wins NECC improves to 18-2 on the season and 3-0 in Region 21 play.

Game 1 (Friday): #5 NECC 21   QCC 1 (5 inn)
Game 2 (Saturday): #5 NECC 5 QCC 2
Game 3 (Saturday): #5 NECC 16 QCC 0 (5 inn)

Game 1

• NECC scored all the runs they would need in the first as they jumped out to 3-0, before adding eight runs in the second, six in third and four in their final at bat before the game ended via the run rule.
• After Nick Panzini (Methuen) led the inning off reaching via an error, Chris Bear (Boston) ripped a 1-1 pitch to left field for a two run home run. Nick White (Townsend) then took the first pitch he saw to center field for a triple and could score on a throwing error attempting to make a play at third.
• Luke Berube (Dighton) led off the second with a home run over the left field fence. Kam Levesque (Hooksett, NH) followed with a double and came round to score on a base hit from Panzini. With the bases loaded Jared Coppola (Lynn) grounded into a fielder's choice that score Panzini. Joey Settle (Melbourne, FL) scored on a single from Clay Campbell (Goffstown, NH).
• Still in the second, Berube recorded his second extra base hit of the inning to score Campbell, and Levesque would follow with his second double of the inning to plate the final two runs of the inning.
• Levesque provided the big hit in the third as he hit his third double of the game that drove in a pair, he finished the game going a perfect 4 for 4 with five RBI's.
• White, Coppola, Campbell and Berube also recorded multiple hits as part of the 15 hit attach which included 10 of the extra base variety.
• Jayden Voelker (Cumberland, RI) started and struck out six batters in three innings of work allowing one hit. Tyler McDonald (Haverhill) pitched the final two innings and recorded all six out via the strikeout, while walking two and allowing one run on one hit.

Game 2.

• The game remained scoreless until the Knights plated three runs in the top of third all with two out. Panzini scored the first after reaching via a walk, would come around when a slower roller in the field was misplayed and thrown away. Bear would score on a base hit from White, who would come around to score on a misplayed ball in the outfield off the bat of Coppola.
• After Quinsigamond plated two in the bottom half of the inning, NECC would score again in the fourth. After a single to left and advancing to second on a fielder's choice, Campbell would score the fourth run of the game for NECC on a single from Kyle Hsu (Brookline, NH) and error on the throw.
• Panzini led off the seventh with a walk and would eventually come around to score on a sacrifice fly to center from White.
• Alex Sweeney (Raymond, NH) picked up the win for the Knights going three innings, striking out four and allowing two runs on two hits. QCC also benefited from five walks.
• Tristan Ciapma (Wilmington) followed with two innings of one hit relief striking out four, before Jack Swarbrick (Haverhill) earned the save throwing the final two innings allowing one hit.

Game 3

• A second straight dominate pitching performance from Todd Tringale (Saugus) was all the Knights need to conclude the series sweep as he pitched a five-inning run rule shorted no hitter, his second no hitter in as many starts. Hes trick out nine, while walking three on 88 pitches.
• Similar to game one the runs came early and often in the 19 hit onslaught for the Knights. Kevin Rodriguez (Manchester, NH) scored the only run NECC would need as he led the game off with a walk and scored a sacrifice fly from Coppola. After reaching via an error, White would score on a double from Settle.
• Hsu drove in a Campbell in the to get the scoring going in the second with a double to center. Bear would hit a double of his own to that scored Berube and Hsu. Bear scored on a line drive to center from White to wrap up the second inning and give the Knights a 6-0 lead before a plating another six in the third.
• Third inning doubles off the bats of Berube, Hsu and Bear accounted for the first four runs of the frame before White concluded the scoring with a two run home run that he pulled down the right field line.
• With two outs in the fourth Rodriguez doubled on a ball to center scoring Hsu, before White belted his second home run in as many at bats, a three shot to the deepest part of the part to account for the final 16-0 score.

The Knights will return to the field on Tuesday afternoon when they travel to Portland for a non-conference game against the Seawolves of Southern Maine Community College. First pitch is set for 4:00pm