Knights

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

By: Dan Allison | Silver Knights media relations

Holman Stadium was re-energized over the weekend, with walk-off hits and game-winning plays bringing the Nashua faithful to their feet over a three-game winning streak. Heading into another matchup with first-place Westfield, It would be hard for the Knights to top their hot weekend ahead of a big week.

Yet, they did.

Nashua, in a game with five lead changes, rallied for four runs in the eighth to lead the Knights to a 9-6 victory. Down one, Siena’s Jeff Valdez and Keene State’s Tommy Ahlers posted one-out singles to threaten the deficit. On the fourth pitch to SNHU’s Nater Wachter, Valdez took off to third with the throw getting past the defender into the outfield and allowing Valdez to tie it. 

After a quick out number two, a bouncing ball to first from Central Michigan’s Drew Loikits appeared to kill the rally. However, Central Connecticut’s Aidan Redahan stumbled getting to the ball which allowed Ahlers to score with Loikits in safely. Nashua retook the lead for the third time, 7-6.

It truly was a boxing match between Nashua and Westfield, with the Starfires delivering the first blow with a 3-0 lead after two. Washington State’s Trey Cruz caught Nashua’s starter in Penn State’s Will Perkowski for a solo homer in the first inning, with Westfield posting two in the second.

Singles from Central Michigan’s Drew Loikits and Penn State’s Adin Zorn got the Knights going in the fourth after three silent innings. With runners on first and second, Northeastern’s Will Fosberg cashed in his first multi-RBI game with a two-RBI double to make it 3-2. Endicott’s TJ Liponis would bring Fosberg in to tie it, with the game sitting at 3-3 after four.

Stonehill’s Nate Kearney would grab Nashua’s first lead of the night on an RBI knock, now with three of his last four games with an RBI. Westfield would respond in the seventh to make it 4-4, but Rutgers’ Owen Carey took the lead back with authority from a solo blast around the left field foul pole to bring Holman to their feet.

Needing six outs, the Silver Knights looked to cruise to win number four in their last five. But Westfield would not go down without a fight, getting to Endicott’s Kyan Bagshaw. Errors and walks would lead to the Starfires grabbing the lead, finished off by Redahan smoking an RBI triple for an emphatic comeback in the eighth 6-5.

Holman’s hopes dropped, but the Knights did not waver. Piecing together runs to regain the lead, Kearney found a right-field gap to bring home two to deliver the final blow in what became a 9-6 win.

After a rollercoaster of a game with several lead changes and 26 combined hits, Nashua posted another dramatic victory to climb to 12-14. Ahead of a big week, the Silver Knights look to carry the momentum into a home matchup with Norwich. Nashua and the Sea Unicorns are set for a 6:00 first pitch on Wednesday.