Knights complete unbeaten conference schedule with sweep of Holyoke

Haverhill, MA (April 30, 2022) – The Northern Essex Community College baseball completed an unbeaten Region 21 conference schedule on Saturday afternoon with a sweep of Holyoke Community College. With the wins the Knights improve to 34-2 on the season and 12-0 in conference play. The Knights have three non-conference games remaining before the Region 21 tournament will get underway on Thursday.

Game 1: #3 NECC 6 Holyoke 4
Game 2: #3 NECC 9 Holyoke 1

Game 1:

• After falling behind 2-0 in the first, NECC clawed their way back for the win. Alex Sweeney (Raymond, NH) tossed four innings of four hit baseball allowing two earned runs while striking out eight and walking one. Tom Cattaneo (Guilford, CT) tossed the final two innings allowing two runs on three hits.
• In the bottom half of the first Nick White (Townsend) reached on a fielder's choice and would come around to get the Knights on the board after stealing second on a single to center from Jared Coppola (Lynn).
• With two out in the 2^nd NECC would tie the game up when Lucas Berube (Dighton) reached via a two out walk and would score on a triple from Kam Levesque (Hooksett, NH).
• A 3^rd inning passed ball with Chris Bear (Boston) on third base after leading the inning off with a single to right allowed the Knights to take the lead. Clay Campbell (Goffstown, NH) added a run in the 4^th after he reached after being hit and advanced to second on a fielder's choice. His steal of third base led to an errant throw into left field which allowed him to score.
• Two runs in the 5^th gave the Knights the cushion they would need as Holyoke plated a pair in the top of the 7^th. Bear led off with a double and scored on a base hit to right from White. After advancing to third base with one out White would score the Knights final run on a error by the catcher.

Game 2:

• Three 1^st inning solo home runs were all the Knights would need for the game two victory. Kevin Rodriguez (Manchester, NH) and White hit back-to-back inside the park homers, before Richard Matos (Boston) clubbed his fourth home run in three games. After clearing the left field fence, the ball took one bounce before landing at the front door to the DiBurro Fieldhouse.
• Richie Williams (Georgetown) got in on the home run action in the 2^nd as he hit a two-run shot to center that drove in Kyle Hsu (Brookline, NH) who led the inning off with a double.
• Campbell led off the 4^th with a single and would score one batter later when Hsu smacked a triple to the gap in left-center. He would score on an errant throw to third base.
• The final two runs of game came across the plate in the 6^th. Joey Settle (Melbourne, FL) scored on a sacrifice from Hsu after entering the game as a pinch runner. Campbell scored on an infield groundout from Dallas Vaughan (Haverhill) after smoking a double right.
• Jagger Iovenelli (Huntington Beach, CA) went the distance on the mound as he allowed three hits over seven innings of work, allowing one run while striking out 13 and walking three.

NECC has a quick turn around as they hit the road Sunday morning for a pair of games at UConn- Avery Point. They return home on Tuesday to complete the regular season, playing their lone game of the season on the campus field Tuesday against Southern Maine Community College.