Published: 7/15/2021 9:56:16 PM
Modified: 7/15/2021 9:56:21 PM
LYNN, Mass. — The Upper Valley Nighthawks earned an important NECBL doubleheader sweep over the North Shore Navigators Thursday at Fraser Field.
The Nighthawks beat the Navigators, 1-0 and 4-3, taking the latter contest in eight innings. The Navigators (13-11-2) had briefly passed the Nighthawks (17-12) in the NECBL Northern Division standings following Upper Valley’s loss to first-place Keene on Sunday, but the Nighthawks are now 1½ games ahead of North Shore for the second position.
The Nighthawks took the lead in the first inning of the opener on an RBI single by left fielder Alan Roden (Creighton). Upper Valley rode a strong pitching performance from Hartford High alum Jordy Allard (Richmond) from there.
Allard threw six innings of shutout baseball, allowing six hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Connor Holden (Murray State) closed out the seven-inning victory for the save in his Upper Valley debut.
Second baseman Max Viera (Northeastern) and designated hitter Kyle Novak (James Madison) both recorded multi-hit games for Upper Valley.
The Nighthawks struck early again in the nightcap, scoring three runs in the first inning. Viera hit an RBI single to break the ice, with a second run scoring on an error. Viera came home on the next at-bat, an RBI single by third baseman Gehrig Anglin (Wright State). Anglin was the only Nighthawk with a multi-hit game in the second contest.
Like Allard earlier, Jake Gigliotti (Northeastern) turned in a solid effort on the mound. He held the Navigators scoreless over 4⅔ innings, giving up five hits and striking out seven batters.
North Shore tied the game in the sixth inning. First baseman Logan Bravo (Harvard) led off with a solo home run. Left fielder Hunter Baldwin (Harvard) brought the Navigators even with the Nighthawks later in the frame with a two-run single. Nighthawks reliever Nick Cantone (Marist) was tagged with the earned runs.
Upper Valley took the lead for good in the eighth. Left fielder Andrew Walker (Xavier) was the designated runner at second base to start the inning, advancing to third on a sacrifice by Novak and scoring on an RBI sacrifice fly by right fielder Parker Haskin (Elon).
The Nighthawks return to Maxfield Sports Complex Friday to face the Sanford Mainers.