Posted: May 04, 2026
Knights Walk It Off with Perfect Execution, Clinch Final Four Berth
Game 2
Game 2
College of Southern Maryland
(20-21, 14-18)
4
CCBC Essex
(35-13, 22-9)
5
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
College of Southern Maryland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
|
CCBC Essex | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
May 4, 2026 — Rosedale, MD
In a moment that defined their season, CCBC Essex executed to perfection.
With the game tied in the bottom of the seventh, Yariel Hernandez (Fr.) dropped down a flawless safety squeeze, bringing home the winning run and lifting the Knights to a 5-4 walk-off victory over the College of Southern Maryland at The Kingdom.
The win capped a historic regular season for CCBC Essex, as the Knights finish 36-13 overall and 22-6 in Region 20 play, earning the No. 2 seed and advancing to the Final Four for the sixth consecutive season.
Under Head Coach Sean O'Connor, CCBC Essex has now reached the regional tournament in all six seasons — one of only two programs to achieve that consistency. Monday's victory also marked Coach O'Connor's 150th career win at Essex, another milestone in the program's continued rise.
The game itself mirrored the grit that has defined the Knights all year.
After falling behind early, Essex responded in the second inning when Laurin Guerra Guzman (So.) launched a solo home run to right field to even the score. The Knights then took the lead in the third behind a sacrifice fly from Manuel Agostini (Fr.) and an RBI double from Connor Bailey (So.).
The Hawks refused to go away, battling back to tie the game in the fourth and reclaim a 4-3 lead in the sixth. But once again, Essex answered. With two strikes, Yahil Diaz (Fr.) delivered a clutch RBI single to tie the game at four and set the stage for late-inning heroics.
In the seventh, the Knights turned to execution — and delivered the decisive blow. Hernandez's perfectly placed bunt caught the defense off guard, allowing the winning run to score and sending the dugout into celebration.
Offensively, the bottom of the order played a pivotal role, with Vargas, Hernandez, and Diaz combining for key production. Hernandez led the way with three hits, while Guerra Guzman provided the early spark with his home run.
On the mound, Joe Cuccurullo (Fr.) battled through 5.2 innings, striking out seven, while Andy Martínez Rivera (Fr.) delivered 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to keep the game within reach.
Now, the Knights turn their attention to the next challenge.
CCBC Essex will open Final Four play on Thursday, May 14 at 12:00 PM at Frederick Community College, with their opponent still to be determined.
For a program built on consistency, Monday's win was another example of doing what it takes — whether it's power, patience, or, when the moment calls for it, perfect execution.
