Knights

Photo: Kailey Lane/Nashua Silver Knights

FCBL’s Monday day off gave the Silver Knights their first break in three days before a makeup doubleheader against Worcester on Tuesday. Making up for their rainout on May 28th, the Bravehearts were now set to officially take the diamond at Historic Holman Stadium for the first time in 2022. In a day of ups and downs for the red and black, Nashua split the doubleheader with a 11-1 game one loss and a 4-0 game two win.

To start off the day, Northeastern’s Aiven Cabral got the nod for Nashua as he was set to make his third appearance of the summer. Aiven’s teammate Joe Hauser was on the bump for Worcester, copying his fellow husky and making his third outing of the 2022 as well. Not facing off since three weeks prior, the Knights and Bravehearts weren’t too familiar with one another. In the first inning, Worcester wasted no time reintroducing themselves.

Two singles by Dayton’s David Pedanou and Marist’s Gavin Noriega put together a big opportunity for Worcester to strike. Bryant’s Lewis Barnum cashed in with the runners aboard, putting a ball in play for a fielder's choice to bring home one run.

With a one run appetizer in the first, Worcester brought out the main course in the second. After another two hits to start their inning, Fordham’s Sebastian Mexico doubled to center to make it 2-0. Pedanou tallied his second hit of a three-hit day with a RBI single to keep the line moving. A Nashua error brought home another run for the Bravehearts, as Siena’s Matt Livingston kept firing away for Worcester with another RBI single. In a blink of an eye, it was 6-0 Worcester.

Nashua slowly crept back via Niagara's Brady Desjardins RBI single, but the bleeding did not stop on the other side of the frame. Following their five-run inning, the Bravehearts added four more in the third. Pedanou smacked an RBI double to cap off his two RBI performance. Noriega followed him with a two-RBI day of his own, singling to left for his third hit. Along with Worcester’s blitz of hits, sloppy play from the Knights limited their chances. Another Nashua error brought around another run, making the score 10-1.

In danger of being mercied, the Knights needed to put up some numbers. Unfortunately, the only numbers posted were big zeroes. With the mercy rule in play in the fifth due to the seven-inning game for the doubleheader, the Bravehearts looked to end the already shortened game even earlier. Southern Maine’s Cam Seymour joined the RBI party, singling to right for his first RBI of the game. Now in the mercy territory, the Knights would need to score to keep this game alive.

Needing to rally, the Knights did the opposite. A 1-2-3 inning cut the ballgame short with Worcester taking game one in dominating fashion, 11-1.

GAME 2

Looking to rinse out the taste in their mouth from the game one blowout, Assumption’s Shea Ryan took the bump for the Silver Knights as they sought to split the two-game afternoon. Salem State’s Jack Sefrino got the start for Worcester, looking for his third win of the season along with a doubleheader sweep.

Looking to avenge a lackluster performance in game one, the Silver Knights offense got right to business. Northeastern’s Carmelo Musacchia and Amherst’s Jack McDermott both singled to open the bottom of the first with Eastern Nazarene’s Shane McNamara now coming up with one out and runners on second and third. McNamara produced a sacrifice fly to bring home Melo to give the Knights their first lead of the day, 1-0.

Ryan pitched well in his start, not giving up any runs in his three and ⅔ innings pitched. On the other side of the ball, the Nashua offense started to cook. Another situation with two runners on and only one out set up UMass’s Will MacLean with a potential RBI opportunity. Sporting a new bat, the new lumber might be just what MacLean needed as he found open grass for his second hit of the day and to bring home another Nashua run. Now at 2-0, Musacchia followed Will with his second hit as his single brought the second Nashua runner home. On a misplay by Worcester, MacLean ended up rounding third and coming home as well. After four, the Knights were up 4-0.

Now with some separation from the Bravehearts, the game was now in the hands of the Knights pitching staff. SNHU’s George Welch and Wake Forest’s Will Andrews delivered for Nashua, recovering for the staff’s rough game one. Welch and Andrews gave up a combined two hits with no earned runs, cruising the Knights to a painless game two victory.

In a day of ups and downs, the Knights were able to recover to make up some ground after their brutal game one. Nashua now adds another W and L to their record, now sitting at 11-17. Worcester leaves Holman at .500 with a record of 14-14, as they are not able to record the doubleheader sweep.

Nashua will welcome in the Westfield Starfires on Wednesday night, looking to get a possible win streak going before a big weekend slate. First pitch will be at 6:00 PM. Worcester will be home as well, hosting the Norwich Sea Unicorns at 6:30 PM.