Knights

Photo: Anthony Mancuso/Nashua Silver Knights

For Nashua and Brockton’s second meeting of the weekend, New England Sports Network came down 25 miles south of Boston to set up shop in Campanelli Stadium for the FCBL’s fourth game on NESN in the 2022 Futures League NESN Showcase. NESN has been host to some thrilling FCBL contests so far, including a Nashua walk off win at Holman in early July. But as the announcers prepared viewers for another great ballgame, the Silver Knights cut the cameras early in a blowout win against Brockton.

Continuing a common theme as of late, Nashua’s offense once again exploded for a huge performance. Saturday’s win marks the Knights third time posting 10 or more runs in their last six games, now pushing their win streak to five games. Nashua’s afternoon started off with a bang from a leadoff solo home run from Nichols’ Johnny Knox and UMass’ Will MacLean following suit with a three-run shot in the same inning. After just the top of the first, the Knights were already up 4-0.

A new, fresh frame wouldn’t stop the Knights obsession with the long ball as a three-run second included a two-run blast from Maryland’s Zach Martin. Before most fans could flick on their TVs, it was all Silver Knights in Brockton as they held a 7-0 lead.

Northeastern’s Aiven Cabral got the start for the Knights, making his seventh appearance of the season. With a lot of run support behind him, Cabral did enough to get the job done with five strikeouts and only one earned run in five innings of work.

Brockton, while already down seven, didn’t show any signs of quitting in their pursuit to get back into it. Brockton would chip away at the lead, adding one in the second and two in the fourth. Unfortunately for the Rox, the current juggernaut of an offense for Nashua showed no signs of slowing down.

After adding one in the fourth and one in the fifth, the Knights put together their third big inning of the day with a five run sixth. Nashua’s big inning was kickstarted by Brockton once again walking batters aboard.

 A couple passed balls and free bases later, Amherst’s Jack McDermott would fire off another big blow to Brockton with a two-RBI double to left field. Now with a score of 14-3, things were starting to truly get out of hand.

On the brink of a mercy rule loss, the Rox saved the potential shortened ballgame with a three-run sixth. After six in the books, the score sat at 14-6.

Heading into the eighth, both teams emptied out the back of their bullpens in order to not waste their better arms on a runaway game. Nashua and Brockton traded two spots in the eighth, with Zach Martin punching a two-RBI double to complete his stellar afternoon.

In the ninth, Johnny Knox finished Nashua’s day the same way he started it. Knox smashed another solo homer, giving him his second of the day and putting the cherry on top of a massive fifth straight Knights victory.

After sweeping their two-game road stint with the Rox, the Knights move to 29-21 on the year. Three Silver Knights collected their first home run of the season, including four RBI afternoons from MacLean and Martin and a two HR day for Knox.

Nashua will finish their weekend in Norwich, CT tomorrow against the Sea Unicorns. First pitch in Norwich is set for 4:00 PM.