Knights

Photo: Kailey Lane/Nashua Silver Knights

Just three short days removed from Nashua’s last home victory, the Silver Knights were back at Historic Holman Stadium for another home stint. Nashua was set up for two midweek home games before a full weekend on the road. Continuing their success on their home turf, the Knights took the victory in a seamless 3-0 victory against the Worcester Bravehearts.

While Nashua notched their second straight home victory on Wednesday, their matchup against Worcester was a polar opposite of Sunday’s win against Vermont. Sunday’s victory included intense back and forth scoring, while Wednesday’s win was dominated by Nashua’s arms. Eastern Connecticut State’s Nolan Lincoln posted a dominant start, boosting the Knights to their fourth shutout victory of the season. 

Coming off a huge 12-2 win to end their doubleheader in Westfield, Nashua looked to continue the momentum. Lincoln got the ball for the Knights, seeking his fourth win of 2022. In his ninth Silver Knight appearance, Lincoln shined in six scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Londonderry’s own was efficient, making use of batted ball outs with Nashua’s defense playing stellar behind him.

After squandering two leadoff singles in the first and second, the Knights finally made use of early base runners in the third inning. Amherst’s Jack McDermott found a big gap in the outfield and turned on the burners for a triple, putting a man on third with only one out. Eastern Nazarene’s Shane McNamara wouldn’t let the Knights waste another chance, singling into center with two outs to bring McDermott home. McNamara claimed his 17th RBI of the season, tying him for second on the team.

A 1-0 lead wouldn’t stop St. Thomas Aquinas’s Andrew Jemison from adding on the pressure. Jemison roped a double following McNamara to bring him all the way around from first. After three, it was 2-0 Nashua.

Outside of pitching, Niagara's Brady Desjardins was one of several position players to bring his best to the diamond on Wednesday. Along with a RBI single in the fourth, Desjardins made several plays in the field with two turned double plays and some great stops. Desjardins sixth RBI of the year gave him back-to-back games with RBIs, making the score 3-0 Nashua.

After Lincoln’s six innings of excellence, the ball was now handed to the bullpen to get things done. URI’s Brandon Hsu was first out of the pen but found himself in a bases-loaded jam in his inning of work. Manager Kyle Jackson now called upon Plymouth State’s LT Pare to get out of the situation, as he did exactly that. Pare got out of the jam in his one and ⅔ innings pitched, allowing no runs to come across.

Now headed to the ninth, Wake Forest’s Will Andrews came in to close out what should be a pain free win for the red and black. Andrews made quick work of the Bravehearts, striking out two in one frame to end the ballgame. Andrews got his second save of the season as Nashua took the W 3-0.

A stellar outing that included Lincoln’s fourth victory, Pare’s work in a jam, and Andrew’s save enabled the Silver Knights to cruise to an easy victory. Now with one more home game before heading on the road for the weekend, Nashua will welcome in the Pittsfield Suns for a 6:00 PM first pitch on Thursday.