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WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT - The Upper Valley Nighthawks (2-2) dropped the 2022 home opener 10-6 against the Winnipesaukee Muskrats (2-2) on Saturday. Nighthawks pitchers collected 14 strikeouts and were charged with just three earned runs behind five errors. Starting pitcher Tommy Peltier made his debut with four innings of three-run (zero earned) ball with seven strikeouts. Will Sullivan continued his hot streak with the Nighthawks’ first home run of the season. In the eighth inning he unleashed on a 2-0 fastball for a 104 mph, 445-foot no-doubter.

 

“It felt really good off the bat,” Sullivan said. “Got a good pitch to hit 2-0 and got a hold of it. (Control) is what I’ve been working on with the coaches. (I am) trying to do that and put myself in a good position to hit.”

 

The defensive woes started early for the Nighthawks. Ty Kaufman booted a hard-hit grounder to second base to start the game. Catcher Nick Fazzari threw the ball into the outfield on a stolen base that plated Matthew Alifano to open scoring for the Muskrats. Brett Paulsen later hit an RBI single to extend the Muskrats lead to 2-0 in the first inning.

 

“Just some sloppy play,” manager Justin Devoid said. “You know, playing on turf yesterday I think we were comfortable. Going back out on clay we kind of rushed some things. Some stuff to work on but it’s a long season. We have some games left to get it going.”

 

The Nighthawks got even in the bottom of the first with a walk and three hits. Ryan Ignoffo hit an RBI fielder’s choice to cut the deficit. Luca Trigiani followed him with a game-tying RBI single.

 

In the third inning, Kaufman made his second error of the game on a similar play to the first-inning miscue. The hard grounder deflected off his upper-body into the outfield as Kohl Abrams scored to give the Muskrats a 3-2 lead.

 

The Nighthawks tied the game again in the fourth inning. Ignoffo hit a leadoff double and stole third. Kaufman grounded out to second base to even the game 3-3. 

 

The game remained scoreless until things unraveled in the seventh inning. The Muskrats put up seven runs to take a 10-3 lead on four hits, two walks, two steals, a wild pitch and two Nighthawks errors.

 

The Nighthawks chipped away with two runs in the seventh to cut the deficit to 10-5. In the eighth inning Will Sullivan launched a solo home run to cut the game to 10-6. The comeback fell short in the ninth when Trigiani grounded into a 1-2-3 double play with the bases loaded to end the game.

 

The Nighthawks travel to Winnipesaukee for a rematch with the Muskrats at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. The game can be streamed on NECBL Network.