Knights

Thursday, June 13, 2024

By: Dan Allison | Silver Knights media relations

For the sixth time this season, the Silver Knights lost in a game where they outhit their opponent in Thursday’s 5-1 loss to Worcester. Nashua’s 11th season loss makes it back-to-back games with the Knights falling despite leading in the hit column. 

Putting together nine hits to Worcester’s six, the Silver Knights were once again not able to cash in on-base runners with nine men left on base and five left in scoring position. Nashua’s lone run came on an RBI single from Albany’s Derek Finlay to avoid the shutout. 

One of the biggest victims of the lack of runs was Southern Maine’s Jason Libby, who shined in his third appearance of the summer. Looking to bounce back from last week’s loss in New Britain, Libby tossed five shutout frames on only two hits and four strikeouts. With neither offense budging, the score sat scoreless through five innings.

As Nashua dipped into their bullpen, Worcester jumped on the opportunity in the sixth. Some walks and miscues for the Knights set up Worcester to break the tie with a passed ball. Dayton’s Ben Dean struggled in his first outing of the summer, with UMass Lowell’s Andres Hulfachor coming in to try and get the Knights out of a bases-loaded, no-outs situation. 

On his third pitch of the day, Hulfachor was called for a balk that brought home another run for the Bravehearts. In an inning where Nashua already had tough luck, a tough call for the Knights capped off a backbreaking inning. Worcester added one more in the frame to make it 3-0 after seven.

Three runs were all Worcester needed to take the victory, adding two more in the top of the ninth for good measure. Nashua tried to spark a last-minute rally, but the push came all too late with a strikeout sealing the game following the Finlay RBI.

Not being able to put the pieces together on offense, the Silver Knights will look to the drawing board before hitting the road to start the weekend. With Friday’s game in Westfield postponed due to pending rain, Nashua will head to Brockton on Saturday night for a 6:00 PM first pitch.