Clements hits his first career home run in MCC’s 8-5 win over Quinsigamond CC

WORCESTER, Mass. (April 26) – Freshman catcher Kevin Clements (VERNON) had two hits, including his first career home run, and three RBIs as the Manchester Community College baseball team defeated Quinsigamond Community College 8-5 in a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III Region XXI game Thursday afternoon.

The Cougars (13-9 overall, 9-3 NJCAA Division III Region XXI) have won six of their last nine games.

MCC sophomore second baseman Aaron Granahan (THOMASTON) went 4-for-6 with one RBI and one run and sophomore right fielder Jason Banks (STAFFORD SPRINGS) 3-for-5 with one stolen base. Sophomores Shane Legare (WILLINGTON), Andrew McKenna (WATERBURY) and Andy Sauer (WILLINGTON) each totaled two hits.

Manchester Community College freshman right-hander Kevin Garrison (BERLIN) pitched two scoreless relief innings for the win. Garrison (2-1) allowed three hits and struck out one. He relieved right-handed starter Jeff Raymond (HEBRON), who allowed one hit and one walk over the first three innings. Raymond faced 10 batters and struck out two. Sophomore right-hander Nick Jones (EAST WINDSOR) recorded the final four outs for his first save. He entered the game with a 6-5 lead and the tying run on first with two outs in the eighth. Jones induced sophomore catcher Matt Barsaleau to hit into a pitcher-to-first groundball out to end the inning. He allowed one hit and struck out two.

The Cougars scored two in the second and two in the third on Clements’ two-run home run to left center to lead 4-0.

Quinsigamond CC (5-17) cut the MCC lead in half (4-2) with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Manchester Community College built its lead back to four runs, 6-2, with two in the eighth on RBI singles by Legare and Clements. The Chiefs scored three in the bottom of the eighth to close to 6-5. The Cougars scored twice in the ninth on a wild pitch and on Sauer’s RBI double for an 8-5 lead.

Quinsigamond Community College right-handed starter Kevin Leblanc went eight-plus innings, allowing seven runs, 14 hits, four walks and one hit batter. Leblanc (1-3) struck out three. The Chiefs’ sophomore center fielder Shaun Cianci had two hits and two runs.

MCC travels to University of Connecticut at Avery Point in Groton, Conn., for a 1 p.m. NJCAA Region XXI doubleheader Sunday.