Trouble In the Swamp
KEENE, NH - By Jacob Anes. The Nighthawks lost to the Keene Swamp Bats 5-3 on Wednesday night. The loss dropped the Nighthawks to 1-1 on the young season.
Joseph Chambers (Dartmouth) got the start for Upper Valley, throwing 4 innings, allowing just one run on three hits. He struck out four and walked none. The lone run against Chambers was a Swamp Bats solo home run by left fielder John Malone.
Despite falling behind 1-0, the Nighthawks continued to battle, consistently threatening with runners on base. In the 5th inning, Jack Spanier (Minnesota) and Nick Mazzotta (Wagner) walked with one out. Kyle Neri (Rider) then drove a ball to deep center, which looked like it was headed over the fence. However, Swamp Bats centerfielder Gabriel Pitts made a spectacular leaping catch, keeping three runs off the board.
Eventually, the Nighthawks broke through, scoring two runs in the 6th on an Anthony Brotz (Marist) fielder’s choice and a wild pitch. Keene responded quickly, tying the game at two in the bottom half of the inning.
In the top of the 7th, the Nighthawks rallied again to regain the lead. Nick Mazzotta led off the inning with a walk and then moved up to second on an Anthony Greco (William & Mary) single. With two outs, Nighthawks’ catcher Ryan MacDougall (Dayton) came through with an RBI single to make it a 3-2 game.
Sean Davis (Iona) entered the game for the Nighthawks, pitching a scoreless 7th to keep the 3-2 lead. However, the Nighthawks quickly ran into trouble in the bottom of the 8th. A leadoff double followed by a bunt single gave Keene runners on the corners with no outs. Two more singles scored both runners, before Keene added some insurance on a passed ball to make it 5-3.
In the top of the 9th, the Nighthawks were able to get the tying run on base, following a walk from Nick Mazzotta and a single from Anthony Greco. A groundout moved both runners over, giving the Nighthawks two runners in scoring position with two outs. Ryan MacDougall hit a hard ground ball to the right side that looked like it might get through, but the Keene second baseman fielded the ball moving to his left and made the throw to first, ending the game.
The Nighthawks will be at Goodall Park for a game against the Sanford Mainers on Friday night. Ryan Sheehy (Hartford) is expected to get the start for Upper Valley.
