Haverhill, MA (May 8, 2025) – The top seeded and #9 nationally ranked Northern Essex Community College baseball team opened up postseason play with a 10-3 win over Bunker Hill on Thursday night and advanced in the winners bracket of the Region 21 Tournament. The Knights improve to 28-8 overall and will play Community College of Rhode Island on Saturday at 5:30pm at Haverhill Stadium. A Saturday win would send the Knights into the tournament championship round, a loss and they would move into the losers bracket.

Bunker Hill jumped out to 2-0 lead in the top of the first but Knights starter Jack Sarno (Byfield) settled in and went seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits, striking out three and issuing one walk. Mike Giessler (Peabody) came on in relief to close the door in the final two innings allowing one hit while striking out four and walking one.

NECC would quickly take the lead back and not relinquish as they plated four in the bottom of the first and two more runs in the second. Anthony Marino (Lynn) got things started with a one out single and would score on a double from Jacob Carter (Malden). With two outs Thomas Fratto (Reading) singled to right field to tie the game and Michael Fabiano (Reading) followed with a two-run home run.

The Knights would plate two more in the second inning on sacrifice flies from both Marino and Carter. Four more runs in the sixth inning would account for the 10-3 final score.

All nine batters in the lineup recorded at least one hit in the game as the Knights outhit the Bulldogs 14 to six in the contest, led by three hits apiece from Carter and Marino. Fratto also added a pair of hits.