Knights

(Westfield, MA): The offense was quiet again for the Silver Knights through the first eighth innings on Friday, only collecting two hits before they erupted for six runs in the ninth and tenth innings to rally for a 6-2 win over the Westfiled Starfires in their first matchup of the season. 

The Starfires put the first run of the game on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Mark Coley (Rhode Island) hit a solo home run to lead off the inning. They would add another run in the seventh to extend their lead to 2-0. Drew DeMartino (Hartford) would reach base on a dropped third strike and be pinch-run for by Danny Crossen (Northeastern). Crossen would get to second on a wild pitch and then score on a Michael DeMartino (SCSU) single.

Fast-forward to the ninth inning, where the Knights were still looking for their first run of the night. Jared Dupere (Northeastern) would rope a one-out single before scoring on a game-tying home run by Dominic Keegan (Vanderbilt). Gabe Driscoll (Binghamton) would pitch a clean ninth for Nashua and send the game to Extra innings.

In the top of the tenth, the Knights offense continued to come alive against Starfires pitcher Andrew Roman (Salve Regina), as they scored four more. Luke Beckstein (Kansas State) would lead off the tenth with a single, followed by a successful SAC bunt from Jack Arend (Nichols). Beckstein would steal third before Brady Day (Kansas State) drew a walk. Leadoff hitter Nick Shumski would get the leading run across after a SAC fly scored Beckstein from third. Troy Schreffler (Maryland) would then single, sending Day to third. The game was put away when Jared Dupere sent a 3-run home run over the wall on a 1-0 pitch to extend the lead to 6-2. 

Nashua pitching was strong on Friday. Starter Patrick Harrington (Assumption) went 6.2 innings, only giving up 2 runs on 5H, 1BB, and 6K. Driscoll picked up the win, tossing 2.1 innings of hitless baseball with no walks and 4K. Griffin Young (Wheaton) pitched a 1-2-3 tenth for the visitors with 2K and helped Nashua maintain their league-leading ERA. Roman took the loss for the Starfires. The Knights take sole possession of third place at 7-6, trailing the North Shore Navigators and Worcester Bravehearts.