Knights

Photo: Chris Lyons/Chris Lyons Photography

Following their home loss against Westfield, the Knights headed to Pittsfield, MA to face a Suns squad that they knocked off on Opening Night. After dropping three games in a row, the Silver Knights were looking to break the drought and get their second win of the season.

Looking to continue their success against the Suns, Nichols College’s Sean Ryan got the start for Nashua. Ryan got in three innings of work, giving up one earned run on only two hits. University of Hartford’s Ryan LaPierre started for Pittsfield and shined early. LaPierre held the Knights to one hit with two strikeouts in three innings pitched.

As the score sat at 1-0 with both starters coming out after the 3rd, a lot was still left to unfold in this matchup. Amherst College’s Ian Donahue shut down the Knights in his two innings, giving up no hits. But while Pittsfield’s pitchers put on excellent outings, Nashua’s arms kept the Knights within arm’s reach of the Suns. Worcester State’s Cole Glassburn did a great job in the middle innings, throwing four strikeouts while only giving up two hits in 3.1 innings. After six, Pittsfield remained on top 1-0.

After a silent night at the plate, Nashua’s offense flipped the switch in the seventh inning. Amherst College’s Jack McDermott broke the shutout with an RBI double. St. Thomas Aquinas’ Andrew Jemison, who walked his way on base earlier in the inning, came around to score on a wild pitch to give the Knights the lead 2-1.

After Nashua’s offensive awakening, Pittsfield responded with a run in the bottom of the seventh. UMBC’s Derek Paris found open grass in right field to get himself a double as a Suns runner came around to score via a Nashua error. After seven, both teams were knotted up at two apiece.

After the Suns tied it up in the seventh, Boston College’s Kyle Wolff quickly regained the lead for the Knights with a sacrifice fly. Penn State’s Richie Paltridge found his way on with a single and would come around to score, thanks to his stolen base and a few Pittsfield errors. Back-to-back two-run innings for the Silver Knights left them with a 4-2 lead.

Heading to the bottom of the eighth, the baton was now passed to the rest of the Nashua bullpen to seal the deal. After a so-so showing versus Westfield, this pitching staff was looking to get back on track. Fitchburg State’s LT Pare and Plymouth State’s Noah Wachter did just that, giving up no runs in their combined 2.2 innings pitched.

Pare, who was coming off pitching the day before, relieved Glassburn and made quick work of the Pittsfield lineup. Pare got two outs in the bottom of the eighth before handing the ball over to Wachter, who came in looking for the save. Wachter struck out two in his four batters faced, earning him his first save of the 2022 season.

Nashua earned their second win of the season, beating the Suns 5-2. While the offense came through towards the end of the game, the Knights pitching was the backbone of their victory. Strong outings by all four pitchers were major components to the win, especially Cole Glassburn, who ended up earning his first win of the year in his relief appearance.

Nashua moves to 2-3 on the year as they will head home to face the Vermont Lake Monsters at 6:00 PM Wednesday. Pittsfield sits at 1-5 and will travel to Westfield to take on the Starfires in a 10:30 AM, early morning battle.