Knights

Knights Fall on Opening Day 

Today was opening day for the Nashua Silver Knights, who hosted the Worcester Bravehearts at 10:30 AM at Holman Stadium. It was also education day, as the Knights brought two thousand plus children to the game. 

The Knights got off to a hot start in this one, packing on runs early and often. The game started off with leadoff man Ernie Little bunting to get on. This ignited a rally, as Little scored on a fielder's choice. Tommy Ahlers also scored an inning after he came all the way around after a leadoff single. 

The Knights started Tommy Flaherty in this one and he started great allowing two runs through his 4 innings of work on the day. The Knights then turned to the bullpen for the rest of the game as a combined 6 players held the mound in this one for the team. Hunter Ward and Kevin Rourke came in following Flaherty and were superb, allowing one run in three combined innings of work. 

The game was low scoring heading to the end of this one as after seven the score was 4-3 in favor of the Knights. The 8th inning in this one however was memorable for both teams. The Bravehearts started off the inning hot as they strung together hits versus newly brought-in Mike Crowley. The Bravehearts would pile on three runs on four hits before a move was made on the mound. The next batter following the pitching change for the Knights, Jackson Marshall opened the game wide open as he launched a three-run homer to left field way beyond the fence. By the end of the top half of the inning, the score was 9-4 Bravehearts. 

The Knights would respond in the bottom half of the inning as they would get a runner on via a Will Burns triple that ignited the lineup. Following Burns the rest of the lineup would do their part as they drove him in along with two other runs as the Knights clawed their way back making the score 9-7 after 8. 

In the ninth, the Bravehearts would be put down easily to give the Knights one last chance to win the game. The Knights would rally as they would load the bases with two outs. With the crowd chanting the Knights would fall short as Cole Patterson would fly out to end the game. 

Third baseman Patrick Shrake who went 2-5 on the day said after the loss that “the team is still getting used to playing with each other and everything will come together soon”. The Knights next game is tomorrow versus the Bravehearts on the road in Worcester.