Knights

Thursday, July 4, 2024

By: Dan Allison | Silver Knights media relations

The Fourth of July has become a big tradition and holiday around Nashua. Not just due to the city hosting fireworks at Holman Stadium every year, but the Silver Knights hosting an 11:00 AM start for the third straight year. Nashua has also started a tradition of winning on America’s holiday, winning at home in 2023 and 2022.

However, the Westfield Starfires spoiled the festivities with a shutout of the Silver Knights in a 6-0 win on Thursday. An offense held to just two hits struggled to push runs across, with seven of the nine in the Knights lineup being held hitless on the day.

It was all Starfire pitching on Independence Day, with Georgia Tech’s Cody Carwile tossing five scoreless innings with four strikeouts in his start. Nichols’ Clark Churchill carried the torch following Carwile with three innings of hitless baseball.

For the Knights, Southern Maine’s Jason Libby was solid in his first start of the month. Libby struck out two in three innings but gave up an early run in the first to give the ‘Fires an early lead. Things started to unravel for Nashua when Libby exited, with the Knights bullpen allowing five runs across five innings.

Westfield brought their sticks to Holman, depositing two home runs in the contest to help them pull away. After Charleston’s Jayden Novak went deep earlier, Central CT’s Jackson Haker hit a three-run shot in the eighth to take the game away for good.

The Knights had some chances on the bases paths despite the lack of hits. Nashua worked five walks in the ballgame, with three of the five coming from the 7-8-9 hitters. Along with hits from Stonehill’s Nate Kearney and Central Michigan’s Drew Loikits, the opportunity was at the table for the Knights as they just fell short of cashing them in.

The City of Nashua called the game early due to Fire Marshal Law, as the Knights fell 6-0 in eight innings. Looking to erase Thursday’s shutout, Nashua will return home on Saturday for a 6:00 PM start against Worcester.