Jimmy Perez Drives In 4 To Lead CCBC Essex Past College of Southern Maryland Hawks

La Plata, MD – Sophomore Jimmy Perez (Queens, NY / High School for Arts and Business) came up big at the plate, driving in four runs on three hits to lead CCBC Essex to a 10-5 victory over the College of Southern Maryland Hawks on Tuesday.

Perez delivered RBI singles in both the fourth and sixth innings, each time driving in two runs to power the Knights' offense.

CCBC Essex opened the scoring in the third, capitalizing on a defensive error that brought home two runs. Sophomore Justin Cook (Bradenton, FL / Manatee) followed with a single to push the lead to 3-0.

The Hawks answered in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run homer by Henry Itani, cutting the deficit to one.

Sophomore Arnaldo Carrion (Wellington, FL / Wellington) took the ball for CCBC Essex and delivered five solid innings, giving up seven hits and three runs, while striking out one and walking none. Sophomore Logan Bennett (Forest Hills, NY / Forest Hills) pitched a scoreless inning in relief, allowing just one hit while striking out one and walking one.

Freshman Lorenzo Rodriguez-Pozo (Orlando, FL / Lake Nona), Sophomore Maxwell Urena (Brooklyn, NY / Christ the King), Freshman Connor Bailey (Salisbury, MD / Parkside), and Sophomore Rafael Castillo (Queens, NY / High School for Construction Trades, Engineering, and Architecture) all recorded multiple hits, helping the Knights total 13 on the day. The team also stole three bases, continuing their aggressive style on the basepaths.

College of Southern Maryland notched 11 hits. Itani drove in three with his home run and finished 2-for-3. Yunior Pena went 3-for-4, and Rayden Deets chipped in with two hits as well.

With the win, CCBC Essex improves to 22-22 overall and 20-14 in Region 20 play. The season series between the two teams ends in a split.

The Knights return home Thursday to face CCBC Catonsville in another Region 20 matchup.