BROCKTON, Mass. ---- The CCRI Knights used a three run top of the eighth inning to capture a 5-3 victory over the host Massasoit baseball team on Wednesday afternoon. The game was called in the top of the ninth inning due to inclement weather in the area.
In a seesaw game, Massasoit (14-16) took its first lead of the game in the last of the fifth.
Trailing 1-0, Justin Martinho (Dighton) smacked an infield single off the CCRI pitcher, followed by a ringing double from Dustin Ashburn (Norton) into the left-centerfield gap. With runners on second and third, a balk was called allowing the tying run to score. Later in the inning with two outs, Jon Hurley (Plainville) laced a single back through the box to give the Warriors the lead.
The Knights (16-11) responded in the top of the sixth when Enzo Clemente roped a RBI double off the fence in right-center to even the score, 2-2.
The Warriors would retake the lead in the last of the seventh. Sophomore Alex Carey (East Bridgewater) started things off with a double to left and moved to third on a sac bunt from Martinho. Next up was Ashburn who hit a shallow fly ball to center. Carey gambled from third and tagged up on the play, which payed off as he scored the go-ahead run.
Things appeared to be working in Massasoit's favor in the seventh. Warrior starter Mike Nader, pitched into the frame, but walked the first batter he faced and was lifted for reliever Scott Anderson. Following a botched sac bunt by the Knights, the Warriors turned a double play to escape still leading 3-2.
Nader, who did not figure in the decision, went 6-plus innings, yielding two runs (one earned) off six hits with three strikeouts in one of his top performances of the season.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, CCRI put up three runs in the top of the eighth as Clemente roped his third double of the game in the frame.
Tyler Morini (Plymouth) was the lone Warrior with a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4.
The Warriors travel to Northern Essex on Thursday for a single game, slated to begin at 3:30 p.m.
