Lewando Twirls 3-Hitter as Baseball Sweeps Bunker Hill

CHARLESTOWN, Mass. ---- Luke Lewando (Brockton) twirled a three-hitter in game two and Bryan Dwyer (Abington) and Nick Andrews (Raynham) blasted homers in game one as the Massasoit baseball swept a doubleheader at Bunker Hill, winning by scores of 10-7 and 4-1.

The two victories ups Massasoit to 14-12 overall and 10-3 in league play, solidifying its spot as the No. 2 seed in the NJCAA Region 21 Tournament, hosted in Brockton from May 12-14.

Game 1: Massasoit 10, Bunker Hill 7

Bryan Dwyer went 2-for-3, including a two-run homer as the Warriors held of the pesky Bulldogs, 10-7 in game one.

The Warriors jumped out early and led 8-2 through three-and-a-half innings, highlight by Dwyer's blast, his second of the season, Nick Andrews' first collegiate long ball and a two-run single from Luis Ramirez (Dedham).

However, in the last of the fifth, things started to unravel a bit for the visiting Warriors. Bunker Hill touched home four times in the frame off Massasoit starter Kasey Kirby (Dedham), all of which were unearned. Leading 8-7 and the bases loaded, reliever Tom Merrick (Brockton) stopped the bleeding by inducing a ground out to keep the Warriors up one.

In the top of the seventh, Massasoit added some much needed insurance. Ricky Sherlock (Whitman) and Andrews drew back-to-back walks. Pinch runner Jimmy Lawless (Hull) entered and stole third, but the Bunker Hill throw went wide allowing the sophomore to scamper home. Jack DeCoste (East Sandwich) added another run by plating Andrews on a fielder's choice.

Merrick was outstanding out of the bullpen, pitching 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. After walking the first batter he faced, he retired the final seven batters, featuring three strikeouts, to earn the save for Kirby.

Kirby struck out four and walked six in 4.2 innings on the bump to earn the win.

Game 2: Massasoit 4, Bunker Hill 1

Luke Lewando (3-0) fired a complete game three-hitter to help Massasoit earn the doubleheader and season series sweep of the Bulldogs.

The Brockton southpaw faced four over the minimum, allowing only five base runners – three singles, one hit batter and a walk over seven innings of work. Lewando struck out a career-high seven and retired the side in order in five of seven frames. In fact the lefty retired nine of the final 10 batters, with the lone base runner being erased on a double play in the bottom of the seventh.

Through two innings, BHCC led 1-0, as the Bulldogs pushed across an unearned run in the bottom of the second.

Massasoit would respond in the top half of the third to tie the game, when Andrews roped an RBI double down the left field line to tie up the score.

An inning later, Dylan Ashburn (Norton) came home on a dropped pop up to give the Warriors the lead.

Clinging to a 2-1 advantage, Massasoit tacked on two runs in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Kyle Holmberg (Middleboro) singled and Preston Rankin followed with a walk. Next up was Lawless, who hit a sky-high pop up that was dropped in short left field allowing both Holmberg and Rankin to score.

Ashburn went 2-for-4 and scored a run in the victory.

The Warriors host MassBay for a doubleheader on Sunday, set to begin at 1 PM.