Knights Split Series vs #7 Frederick Community College

By Austin Johnson

The Knights looked to bounce back after Monday's loss against Bucks County Community College with a double header vs #7 Frederick Community College. The first game did not go their way losing 5-2 but they would bounce back with a huge walk-off win in game two with a final score of 8-7. 

Starting game one for the Knights was Todd Murphy. He would earn his second loss of the season pitching five innings, giving up four runs on ten hits and had three strikeouts. Relieving him in the sixth inning was Ian Babey. He would finish the game allowing one run on one hit and had five strikeouts.

Leading the Knights offense was Luis Marrero and Liam Bowers. Marrero would go two-for-three including a double while Bowers would go two-for-two with a walk and scoring one of the Knights two runs. Both RBIs were credited to Eric Elliott and Manuel Jackson. 

Earning the start for game two was Jake Crawford. He would pitch three and one third innings giving up five runs on six hits with six walks and three strikeouts. Playing a big part in the Knights game two win were relievers Matt Hite and Reed Adams. Hite would relieve Crawford pitching two and two thirds' innings, giving up two runs on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Adams would enter the game in the seventh posting zeros across the board, putting his offense in a great position to win the game in the bottom of the seventh. 

When asked about his team's performance in game two Hite said, "Our offense did a great job today putting up runs for us off good pitching against a nationally ranked team. (Jake) Crawford brought the energy; I came in trying to match that and it worked out well. Getting into the second game we knew we had to come back against a hard team. That game showed who we are. I think this is where it turns around. Great team win today!"

Talking through his performance in game two, Adams said "I just wanted to come in and throw strikes and let the defense work and they did a great job. I couldn't be more proud of our defense!"

Leading the Knights in hits in the second game were Manuel Jackson and Waskar Vicente Martinez with two each, including a three-run homerun from Martinez in the bottom of the first. The Knights would enter the bottom of the seventh tied, before loading the bases and walking it off from a wild pitch, scoring Jackson. 

When talking to Head Coach Sean O'Connor about his message to the team after losing game one he said, "Our message today was to find out who we were, to put it all out there and to not back down." 

Also asking about how he believed his team performed today after losing such a close game against Bucks County Community College on Monday he said "We responded really well. I think the game against Bucks, with a really good pitcher helps you for something like this. The kid they (Bucks) had was throwing really well. So to come out and face quality arms again, to compete against one of the best teams in the country (Frederick), we played well and we stood toe to toe with them."

The Knights return to the diamond Saturday, April 9th as they host Hagerstown Community College in a Region XX double header.