Knights

Photo: Anthony Mancuso/Nashua Silver Knights

Following an offensive explosion at Historic Holman Stadium on Thursday, the Silver Knights hit the road on Friday to face off with the Brockton Rox at Campanelli Stadium. Racking up three wins in a row after back-to-back home wins, Nashua now started game one of their three game road trip weekend. Picking up right where they left off, the Knights took care of a business and beat the Rox 7-5.

Northeastern’s Carmelo Musacchia headlined another big night for the Knights, hitting a big homer for his second in two games. Melo’s two-run home run came in the Knights four-run second inning, giving Nashua the early 4-0 advantage. Nashua’s big second also included an RBI double for newly acquired Johnny Knox from Nichols, showing his value early in his Silver Knight career.

Unlike their runaway win against Pittsfield, the Rox stayed in the contest and kept things interesting. A two-run fourth from Brockton cut the lead in half, with an RBI single from St. Thomas Aquinas’s Eric Volpi and an RBI triple from Arizona State’s Bronson Bolholm.

Following the Brockton answer, Nashua kept at it with their offensive production. Walks and singles started their innings off with potential, adding three runs with one in the fifth and two in the seventh. Eastern Nazarene’s Shane McNamara contributed a sacrifice fly, while a huge Brockton error brought two runs home two innings later. Getting runners on base was key for the Knights, setting up runs to come home even without base hits.

Brockton stayed on Nashua’s tail, not letting this one get away. Replicating the Knights, the Rox also added three more runs after Nashua took a 7-2 lead. Saint Mary's Cody Kashimoto hit a big RBI double along with Tuft’s Jackson Duffy posting an RBI single. Adding three runs, Brockton was now down 7-5 after eight frames.

Nashua’s offense gave their pitching the night off on Thursday in a 14-1 victory. Now on Friday, the Knights needed their pitching to step up and protect the two-run lead. Salem State’s Brock Pare started the game for Nashua, posting three earned runs in four innings pitched. Clark’s Zach Gitschier posted another stellar outing in relief, throwing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Now entering the eighth, the Knights looked to Plymouth State’s Noah Wachter and Wake Forest’s Will Andrews.

Wachter, coming in for LT Pare, finished the eighth by getting two quick outs to head to the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, Will Andrews took over to try and close Nashua’s fourth straight win. Andrews wasted no time cutting down the Brockton lineup, getting them 1-2-3. Andrews locked down his third save of the season, getting comfortable in his newly appointed closer role for Nashua.

Stringing together another winning streak, the Knights will try for five straight wins with a 12:00 p.m first pitch against Brockton. Nashua and Brockton’s Saturday duel will be televised live on New England Sports Network (NESN).