SeaWolves Get Walked Off At Northern Essex

HAVERHILL, Mass.—The Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) baseball team suffered its second defeat to the Knights of Northern Essex Community College (NECC) 5-4 in 10 innings at Trinity Stadium on Tuesday, Apr. 16.

SMCC jumped out to a 4-0 lead after four innings of action getting RBIs from the heart of the order—two by first-year captain Peter Stauber (Cumberland, Maine), and one from both first-year Stefan Lesco (Somers, Conn.) and senior Caleb Burpee (Kennebunk, Maine).

The Knights scored three in their fifth-inning hacks to make it a one-run ballgame and with two-outs in the ninth, the home team came up with a run-scoring hit to right field to send it to extras. A single through the infield produced a walk-off win in the tenth for the Knights who completed the series sweep and pushed to 10-13 on the season.

The SeaWolves connected for 11 hits and 10 walks. In a post-game interview, Head Coach Dave Walsh reflected, "We left 16 men on base—we just couldn't find that big hit late in the game to regain the momentum. Northern Essex is a run-producing offense and Dylan gave us everything he had. Not the revenge we were hoping for, but again we battled on the road."

The Knights used a pitching staff of three to get it done. Michael Goodin came out of the pen and threw 3.2 innings of scoreless baseball to pick up the win. Sophomore captain Dylan Francoeur (Westbrook, Maine) went 8.2 innings and allowed four runs over 14 hits and two walks. Lesco was victim to the loss making his ninth appearance of the season.

The SeaWolves drop their second straight and lapse to 22-7 overall.

SMCC continues conference play with a single nine-inning contest with Great Bay Community College Friday, Apr. 17 at Graves Athletic Field. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. LIVE STATS.

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