Nashua needed a victory, and they got one tonight as they were again on the road again for another game. Facing the Westfield Starfires, the Knights used a big game from Chase Donahue and solid pitching from their staff to carry them to a 7-3 win in a shortened seven-inning game.
The Knights needed a reset this week and got one as they were victorious on the road to get back on track and stay in the playoff push as we head into August. Nashua is now 23-29 and tied for the last playoff spot with the New Britain Bees.
Nashua trotted out Tommy Flaherty to the mound as the righty looked to give his club a quality start. Flaherty would have a shutout in the first inning to start and give his team a boost; however, in the 2nd, he ran into trouble. Flaherty would give up a run to the Starfires; however, he was able to minimize the damage as he would get out of the frame only allowing the one run.
The bats would awake for the Knights in the third as they would get runners aboard. Patrick Shrake would move up to third following a leadoff single, and he would be driven in by Donahue as Nashua tied the game up at one. The Knights would keep the pressure on as they would load the bases for Jake Haarde. The right fielder in Haarde would do his job as he was hit by a pitch, which would walk in a run to give Nashua the lead.
Offensively, the Knights would keep pounding in the 4th as they added on more. They would score three runs in the inning on two singles. One would be off the bat of Cole Patterson to drive in a run, and the other two would be runs from Donahue. Following the top half of the inning, the Knights lead 5-1.
Flaherty would throw two more innings of work as he exited following the 4th inning. He pitched well as he gave the Knights a chance to win a shortened seven-inning game. Rob Gilchrist would come into the ballgame following Flaherty and do pretty well. He would give up a run in each of his two innings of work; however, he was able to minimize damage. He kept the lead intact and let the Knights ‘ leverage arms pitch with a lead in the final two frames.
Nashua would call on Nick Willand to give them a shutdown inning in the 6th, and thats what he did. Willand was able to get his three outs and push the game to the final frame with the Knights up two.
The lead would not stay at two forever, as in the 7th, Nashua added on insurance. Colin Harty would double in a run to give the Knights a three-run lead. Then Haarde would use his legs on the bases to give Nashua their seventh run of the ballgame on a passed ball. With the four-run lead, Kyan Bagshaw was called on to close it out, and he did just that as he handled business. The Knights move back into the win column and get some much-needed relief following a tough losing skid.
