Walk-Off Seals the Deal in Knights' Win Over AACC — Make It Three in a Row and Back-to-Back Region Victories

ESSEX, MD — It was a thriller at home on Sunday as CCBC Essex walked it off in extra innings to defeat AACC Riverhawks 2-1, extending their winning streak to three games and notching back-to-back Region XX victories.

Tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth, sophomore William Hartman stepped up and delivered the clutch moment with a walk-off RBI single, sending the Knights bench into celebration mode and sealing a gritty win.

The Knights struck first in the bottom of the second inning when Brody Carroll (Church Hill, MD / Queen Anne's) doubled to bring home the game's opening run.

AACC tied it up in the top of the seventh when Sam Ross drove a two-out double to center, scoring a runner from first and putting the pressure on Essex late. But freshman Austin Shiflett (Dundalk, MD / Sparrows Point), who entered the game with the bases loaded, got the Knights out of the jam before eventually earning the win. He pitched 2.1 innings, allowing two hits and one run, striking out three and walking one.

Sophomore Mitchell Bayles started for CCBC Essex and was sharp, giving the team five scoreless innings with four strikeouts and only one hit allowed, though he did issue five walks. Logan Bennett also contributed in relief.

Offensively, sophomore Eduardo Zayas (Cidra, PR / Bilingual Education School at Cidra) led the Knights with two hits in four at-bats. Carroll and Hartman were responsible for the team's RBIs, and the defense came up big with two double plays turned on the day.

Ross, Camden Hodges, and Russell Turner each picked up a hit for the Riverhawks, who showed strong plate discipline with nine walks — led by Hodges, Evan Birch, and Nicco Holland, each drawing two.

Up Next

The Knights look to keep the hot streak alive and aim for a region sweep as they continue their doubleheader action.