Sixth Inning Dooms Baseball In 8-7 Loss To Holyoke CC

BROCKTON, Mass. ---- Massasoit totaled 16 hits, but a four-run sixth inning by Holyoke CC proved to be the difference as the Cougars escaped with an 8-7 victory.

Runs were scored early and often, as the Warriors held a 7-3 lead through just three innings of action.

The Cougars tacked on a run in the fourth, which would be the final frame for Massasoit starter Jake Stearns (Plymouth). The lefty allowed four runs (three earned) with five walks and five strikeouts and did not figure in the decision.

After neither team scored in the fifth, HCC plated four runs in the top of the sixth off reliever Brent Eaton (Kingston). Of the four runs allowed in the frame by the sophomore right-hander, only one was earned, as the Warriors committed two errors in the inning.

The four runs would give HCC an 8-7 lead as neither team would score over the final three innings of action. In fact, after scoring seven runs in the first three innings, HCC starter Mike Hagelstein would keep the Warriors scoreless the rest of the way.

Hagelstein scattered 16 hits and allowed seven runs (five earned) with four strikeouts to earn the complete game victory.

Eaton (1-2) was saddled with the loss.

The 16 hits for Massasoit marked the most for the Warriors in a league game this season. Five players finished with multi-hit performances, as Al Carey (East Bridgewater), Dave Murphy (Plymouth) and Justin Martinho (Dighton) all finished with three hits apiece.

Nick Oliveira (New Bedford) and Jim Commesso (Monument Beach) each added a pair of base knocks in the loss. In addition, Carey, Murphy and Commesso all added two RBI.