Knights

Photo: Kailey Lane/Nashua Silver Knights

A disappointing four game road trip for the Silver Knights came to a close on Sunday, with Nashua facing off in the second of a pair of games against the Vermont Lake Monsters. Worcester State’s Cole Glassburn got the start, looking to pick up his first win of the year and help the Knights break a three-game skid. Kansas’s Karter Muck got the nod for Vermont as the two teams took the diamond one last time before having Monday off. Vermont, looking to continue their red-hot winning streak, took home the win 9-5.

After a tough loss on Saturday, the Nashua offense started the game with some emphasis. Northeastern’s Carmelo Musacchia and Salve Regina’s Matt D’Amato both singled along with a walk from Penn State’s Richie Paltridge loaded the bases for Vanderbilt’s Ray Velazquez. Velazquez singled to right field and brought home two runs, giving the Knights the early 2-0 advantage.

Nashua wouldn’t stop there, as the Knights offense piled it on in the opening frame. Richie Paltridge stole home on a throw down to second after walking his way aboard. Pitt’s Matt Travisano hit a sacrifice fly to bring home the fourth run of the inning while Northeastern’s Greg Bozzo smacked a two-bagger to bring home the fifth. It was 5-0 after one with Karter Muck only going ⅔ of the first inning. Hungry for a win, the Knights offense wasted no time mucking up Karter’s night.

After two scoreless half innings, Vermont’s beast of a lineup woke up. Like a splash of cold water to the face, the Lake Monsters offense got cooking in the bottom of the second. Kansas’s Jackson Kline opened the scoring for Vermont with a two RBI single to right. Following him, Tuft’s Jimmy Evans sped his way to a RBI triple to bring Kline in. Trinity’s M.J. Metz followed up Evans with an RBI single. With back-to-back to back RBIs, the Lake Monsters were back in the game with a 5-4 deficit.

Possibly spending all their runs in one place, the Knights couldn’t put up another run on the board following their big inning. Vermont got their offense rev’d up again in the fourth, putting up two runs to take the lead. Two Vermont singles and a walk later and the Lake Monsters found themselves with the bases loaded and one out. Crowder College’s Tyler Favretto, who came in as a pinch hitter, worked a walk in his first at bat to bring in the runner from third. Princeton’s Jordan Kelly, who also subbed into the game, drove a ball to right far enough to bring home another run on a sacrifice fly. In an inning ruled by the bats of the bench, Vermont had their first lead of the game at 6-5 through four.

Zeroes filled the scoreboard as both teams couldn’t buy a run until the seventh inning where Vermont sealed things up. As the Knights held onto their one run deficit for dear life, the Lake Monsters combination of Kline, Evans, and Metz struck again. After an error by Nashua got Kline aboard, the table was set for Vermont as Jimmy Evans singled, and M.J. Metz doubled to both drive in runs. Vermont quickly went from a slim one run led to a sizable four run advantage.

After going dark for most of the game, the Knights were down to their final three outs. Nashua posted seven scoreless innings after their big first inning, but they were ready to not go out without a fight. Brady Desjardins and Matt D’Amato both singled along with a Musacchia walk to load the bases with no outs in the ninth. With the door still cracked open, it was quickly shut by the Lakes Monsters as the Knights went 1-2-3 after the rally. Vermont swept the two-game series with the Knights as they’ve now won 13 in a row. Nashua now falls to 4-11, losing all four games on the road trip.

After a league wide off day on Monday, Vermont will head to Pittsfield to take on the Suns at 6:35 PM Tuesday. Nashua will return home to Historic Holman Stadium to welcome in the New Britain Bees with a 6:00 PM first pitch.