Knights

Photo: John Corneau

Just 24 hours after a thrilling walk off victory, Nashua was set for their second game of five home games in the week with the Norwich Sea Unicorns coming into Holman. Trying to extend their win streak to six, Southern New Hampshire University’s Josh Roberge took the bump for the Knights with Tuft’s Connor Podeszwa rivaling him for Norwich. In a game that Nashua led for most of, the Knights fell in the later innings 3-1.

Nashua’s offense looked to continue their hot streak after a huge offensive comeback the night prior. In the bottom of the second, Colby’s Pat McConnell scorched a ball into the left field trees for an early 1-0 lead. Through only five Nashua batters, the Knights already found themselves with an early advantage.

Following the McConnell blast, both teams shut down each other's offenses. Roberge struck out six on only two hits in his four frames while Podeszwa dazzled with nine strikeouts in six innings pitched. Eastern Connecticut’s Nolan Lincoln continued the dominance for the Knights, giving up no runs in two innings. Nashua, along with their stellar pitching, had luck on their side with short innings and clutch inning ending double plays to hold their 1-0 lead.

After Rhode Island’s Brandon Hsu struck out the side in the seventh inning, A walk and a single in the eighth had the Sea Unicorns threatening to knot things up. A groundout by Mitchell’s Dougie DelaCruz brought home the runner on third with the game now tied up 1-1 through eight.

With nothing cooking in the bottom of the eighth, the Knights looked to hold Norwich scoreless and set up a potential walkoff for the second night in a row. Unfortunately for Nashua, the Sea Unicorns had other plans. A costly Silver Knight error got the first batter aboard with Western New England’s CJ Willis coming to the plate. With the Norwich runner moving up on a stolen base, Willis singled to center to bring around the runner to take the lead 2-1.

Another sacrificial out by Norwich brought home another run in the inning, creating some separation between them and the Knights. Heading into the bottom of the ninth, Nashua was now in a two-run hole.

With a loose grasp of hope for a potential comeback, two quick strikeouts from the Knights lowered the odds of a potential rally. Penn State’s Jake Cooper kept the inning alive with a walk as Amherst’s Jack McDermott singled to move Cooper into scoring position. With two men on, UMass’s Will MacLean grabbed a bat and subbed in at the plate for Nashua. In a tough at bat for Will, a 50/50 call on strike three ended the Silver Knights' night and gave Norwich the victory 3-1.

Nashua did not have much going on at the plate Wednesday night, scoring only one run. While the pitching showed out for most of the ballgame, a quaint 1-0 lead wasn’t going to be enough for the victory as the offense couldn’t wake up in time to rally back.

Nashua will hit the road to Pittsfield, MA to take on the Suns at 6:35 PM Thursday before returning home for a three-game weekend homestand. Norwich will return to Connecticut to take on the Worcester Bravehearts with a 6:30 PM first pitch.