Published: 7/14/2021 12:00:12 PM
Modified: 7/14/2021 12:00:13 PM
SANFORD, Maine — The Upper Valley Nighthawks split their fourth consecutive doubleheader Tuesday, winning one and losing one against the Sanford Mainers at Goodall Park.
The Nighthawks picked up a 2-1 win in the opener, but the Mainers won the nightcap, 7-2.
The Nighthawks (15-12) needed an extra frame in the seven-inning contest to pull out their victory, and they won despite putting up only four hits.
The Nighthawks took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by designated hitter Ronald Evans (UNC Wilmington). The Mainers (8-16) tied it in the fifth.
In the eighth, center fielder Brett Callahan (St. Josephs) started on second base, stole third and scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by catcher Kevin Pitarra (UNC Wilmington).
Callahan returned to the lineup Tuesday following a three-game absence after he hit his head while sliding into home on July 7 against the Winnnipesaukee Muskrats.
Jack Keenan (Marist) gave Upper Valley a solid effort on the mound. He threw five innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Henry Leake (Boston College) pitched two scoreless innings in relief, and Zane Kmietek (Marist) closed out the win in the eighth inning.
The Nighthawks started strong in game two, taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-RBI single by catcher Raphael Pelletier (Kansas State). Pelletier was the only Nighthawk in either game with a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3.
But the Mainers tallied three runs off Nighthawks starter Alex Theis (Wright State) in the third and scored in every inning the rest of the game.
Much of the damage against Upper Valley was self-inflicted. The Nighthawks committed five errors, and only three of the Mainers’ seven runs were earned. Sanford had more runners reach base through combined Nighthawks errors and walks than hits.
The Nighthawks return home Wednesday to face the Vermont Mountaineers.