The CCRI Knights baseball team was back at it for a doubleheader versus the Lynx of New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI). Both games showcased the CCRI offensive power yet was headlined by the pitching performance of Max Marcotte (Coventry, RI) as he struck out 12 batters while throwing his first collegiate no-hitter! Game one and game two finished 17-0 and 12-2 respectively. The two wins improves CCRI’s season record to 12-9 and 4-1 in Region XXI play.

CCRI – 17 NHTI – 0 (5 Innings)

Early scoring set the pace of game one as the Knights opened up with seven runs in two innings. Nick D’Ambra (Coventry, RI) started off the scoring with a RBI single to center field scoring Owen Wosleger (East Hampton, CT) from third. Wosleger had got to third base by stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Joey Barter (Coventry, RI) later hit a triple to left field, scoring two runs bringing the score to 3-0, CCRI over NHTI.

The Knights would score three runs off of defensive errors by the Lynx to start the second inning, making the score 6-0 in favor of CCRI. Jarrad Grossguth (Coventry, RI) would score the seventh run, smacking a double to left field, scoring Austin Davis (Hollywood, FL) from second.

The floodgates opened in the third inning with the Knights scoring 10 runs in the inning. Highlighting the high-scoring offense was Exavier Santiago (Bridgeport, CT). He capped off the scoring as he unleashed a three-run bomb to left field, just squeezing by the foul pole. With the scoring capped game one finished CCRI- 17 NHTI-0.

The Knights saw a balance share of the hitting as nine batters combined for 11 hits. Jarred Grossguth batted 2-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Zach Odsen (Providence, RI) went 2-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Asa Nyblom (Wakefield, RI), Joey Barter, Jacob Frost (Cranston, RI), Michael Castillo (Cranston, RI), Owen Wosleger, Exavier Santiago and Nick D’Ambra all notched one hit for the Knights.

Pitching for CCRI was Korey Fijal (Johnston, RI). Fijal threw five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks and striking out nine Lynx batters. Fijal’s pitching highlighted an excellent defensive performance for the Knights in game one.

CCRI – 12 NHTI – 2 (6 Innings)

Game two built upon the stellar performances of game one. Taking the mound for CCRI was Max Marcotte (Coventry, RI). Marcotte pitched six innings in which he would not concede a single earned run or hit and fanned 12 NHTI batters along the way. Working fast, Marcotte kept the Lynx batters off balance and his off-speed pitches were nearly untouchable for NHTI.

Marcotte pitched in front the whole game, striking out the first batter he faced in all six innings! This allowed him to settle into his comfort zone and work his stuff. The defense behind him played stellar as well. After an early error, the Knights buckled down and played immaculate defense to ensure Marcotte’s no-no.

At the plate for the Knights their offense did not take a step back from game one. CCRI would score a run in every inning of play. In the first inning, Nick D’Ambra (Coventry, RI) led the Knights off with a triple to left field. The next batter, Jacob Frost (Cranston, RI) knocked a single up the middle to score D’Ambra. Joey Barter (Coventry, RI) struck next as he smacked a double to left field, scoring Frost.

Jacob Frost was involved again in the second inning as he hit another single up the middle and would later score off a defensive error making it 4-0 in CCRI’s favor.

A trio of left sided singles from Steve Cochrane (Guilford, CT), Anthony Padilla (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico) and Nick D’Ambra highlighted a four-run third inning for the Knights, score now 8-0.

The Knights’ final blow was struck in the bottom of the sixth when Jacob Frost hit a walk-off, two-run single to right field bringing around Justin Brown (Wallingford, CT) and Anthony Padilla for the 11th and 12th runs. This ended game two in the sixth inning with CCRI victorious 12-2.