Baseball Clinches Region 21 Tourney Bid by Defeating CCRI, 6-3

BROCKTON, Mass. ---- The Massasoit baseball team clinched a playoff spot in the NJCAA Division III Region 21 Tournament on Thursday afternoon, thanks to a 6-3 victory vs the CCRI Knights at the Frizzell Baseball Complex.

Massasoit (11-16, 5-5 R21) will play at CCRI on Saturday for a doubleheader to determine tournament seedings in the four-team double-elimination conference tournament, with opening round games being held at higher seeds on Thursday, May 5th.

The victory for Massasoit snapped a six-game losing streak vs the Knights and marked the first win vs CCRI since April 29, 2010.

As for Thursday, the Warriors and Knights were deadlocked 2-2 heading to the bottom of the third inning.

Massasoit retook the lead for good in the last of the third, when Frankie Manon ripped a two-run double down the left field line to give the Warriors a 4-2 cushion and would lead the rest of the way for the 6-3 victory.

Jadon Ricci topped the Massasoit offense, going 2-for-5 at the dish with a double, triple and RBI. Nick Thibeault added an RBI double, while Matt Kelly and Eric McCallum each chipped in with RBI in the victory.

On the hill, Massasoit used a quartet of arms to even up the team's league record at 5-5 on the season. Jomar Angel Castro worked the first three frames, before giving way to Franciso Navarro who earned the win in relief. Navarro allowed just one hit, no runs and fanned two in three innings of work.

Josh Perez tossed two frames, before righty Nick Hedlund closed out the tossing a scoreless ninth for his first collegiate save.

For Massasoit, by winning one of the two remaining games against CCRI on Saturday, the Warriors will catapult up to the No. 2 seed in the Region 21 Tournament. Saturday's twinbill in Warwick, R.I., starts at 12 PM.