HAVERHILL, Mass. ---- Northern Essex took advantage of some miscues by the Massasoit CC baseball team, edging the Warriors, 7-1 and 4-3 on Saturday.
The Warriors allowed only four earned runs over the course of two games, but six total errors proved to be the difference.
Game 1: Northern Essex 7, Massasoit 1
Massasoit tied up the game at 1-1 in the third, but the Knights touched home three times in both the fourth and fifth innings to take game one.
The Warriors were held to six hits, including a RBI base knock by Dave Murphy (Plymouth) in the third.
NECC's Zarif Pajazetovic totaled 10 punch-outs in the win on the mound, in seven innings of work. Pajazetovic walked only one batter and yielded only one extra-base hit, a double to Jim Commesso (Monument Beach).
Zack Reid (Dighton) suffered the loss, dropping to 2-3 on the year. The freshman gave up seven runs, but just two were earned, to go along with a pair of strikeouts.
Game 2: Northern Essex 4, Massasoit 3
A late surge by Massasoit was not enough, as the Knights earned a sweep of the doubleheader.
Trailing 4-0, the Warriors scored twice in the sixth and once more in the seventh to pull within a single run. Sean Manning (Avon) and Jim Commesso scored in the top of the seventh to get the ball rolling for the Warriors. With the tying run on base, NECC recorded a strikeout to end the ball game.
Massasoit managed only three hits in game two, singles from Michael Scibilio (Bourne), Evan Derochea (Raynham) and Manning.
Both Scibilio and Al Carey picked up one RBI in the loss.
Jake Stearns of Plymouth was saddled with the loss, working the first six innings and striking out seven. The southpaw gave up only four runs (two earned) off four hits.