Auburndale, FL (March 17, 2022) – The Northern Essex Community College baseball team cruised to a game 1 victory in Thursday's double header with Prairie State before walking off in extra innings for a game 2 victory and the sweep. NECC improves to 8-1 on the season with the pair of victories.

Game 1: #10 NECC 13  Prairie State 1
Game 2 #10 NECC 5  Prairie State 4 (10 inn)

Game 1:

• With the game tied at 1 after two innings NECC exploded for nine runs in the top of the third to open up the game that would be called after five innings by the run rule.
• Jagger Iovinelli (Huntington Beach, CA) made his collegiate debut on the mound and earned the complete game win, striking out seven while allowing three hits and one run while issuing one walk.
• All nine third inning runs for the Knights were scored with two outs. Chris Bear (Boston) led the inning off with a base hit, before two quick out were recorded. Joe Settle (Melbourne, FL) walked before Clay Campbell (Goffstown) pulled a a three-run homer down the right field line for a 4-1 advantage.
• The floodgate stayed open as nine consecutive batters reached base and five more runs game across the plate.
• Bear led the attack onslaught with a 4 for 4 performance including two RBI's. Jared Coppola (Lynn) had a game high four RBI's on with a pair of base hits.

Game 2:

• Playing their first extra inning game of the season, the K nights walked off in the 10^th inning after struggling defensively as they made a season high six errors.
• In the bottom of the 10^th, Nick White (Townsend) drove in Lucas Berube (Dighton) from second base with a two out single up the middle to give NECC the win.
• Each team scored three runs in their half of the third inning and a single run each in the sixth inning for the game went to extra innings.
• For NECC in the third, Coppola ripped a bases loaded single to left to drive in two runs. White would tie the game when the shortstop misplayed a flyball off the bat of Campbell.
• Nick Panzini (Methuen) tied the game again in the sixth, reaching on a one out single and then scoring from second on a line drive to right by Richie Williams (Georgetown).
• A trio of Knights pitched held Prairie to only two hits in 10 combined innings of work. Jack Swarbrick (Haverhill) tossed three innings of one hit baseball allowing three unearned runs while striking out three and walking one. Tom Cattaneo (Guilford, CT) came on to toss 4 1/3 inning of hitless relief while striking out five and walking one. Tyler McDonald (Haverhill) would get the win as he pitched the final 2 2/3 innings of one hit baseball striking out three.

NECC will conclude their southern trip on Friday in a split double header beginning 10:30am at Northeast Park in Davenport. Game one is scheduled against Hudson Valley Community College and while game two will follow against #4 Oakton.