Bats Pile On Early, Sweep Nighthawks

White River Junction, VT - After an offensive explosion in game 2 of the Northern Division semi-final, the Keene SwampBats (2-0) will look to continue their chase of the Fay Vincent Sr. in sweeping the Upper Valley Nighthawks (0-2). After a late thriller in game 1, the bats took that momentum and applied it early in game 2 in a 10-5 victory.

There was no wait for an offensive outburst in game 2, as fireworks were being sent off left and right for the SwampBats lineup. It all started with Ty Mainolfi (Boston) pounding a strong infield single to lead off the ballgame. After Jack Herring (East Carolina) and Michael O'Brien (Little Rock) reach base, it sets the stage for Marshal Lipsey (Florida Atlantic) to blast a grand slam to open the game with a 4-0 Keene lead.

However, the first inning support did not stop there. Connor Peek (Georgetown) followed with a base hit right after the grand slam. Then, back-to-back walks follow to set up the original leadoff hitter, Ty Mainolfi, with the bases loaded. He went on to rip a double to right center field to clear the bases, making it 7-0 before the Nighthawks even had a chance to have an at-bat,

On the mound for the SwampBats was Ben Rabatin (Kent St). This outing marked his final start for the SwampBats in 2025... and he made it count. Ben went through a scoreless first inning after the Bats had taken the early lead. Even after letting up a run in the second inning, he still went on to get himself out of jams, stranding 5 total runners on base in his 6 innings of work. Rabatin only allowed 1 run with 7 strikeouts in those 6 innings.

In the fifth inning, the SwampBats took advantage of a defensive blunder while Peek snuck one through the infield to score Lipsey. Then in the seventh inning, the Bats put the dagger in by capitalizing on mistakes even more. Despite Keene leading off that inning with 3 straight singles, not a single run scored off of those hits. Mainolfi scored from third base on a balk, then Ripken Reese (Kent St) scored on a stolen base attempt.

Despite some retaliation from the Nighthawks in the seventh and eighth innings, Andrew Lepine (Stetson) came in to close the game out in the ninth. After a double play, Lepine was then struck by a 101 MPH line drive to his shoulder, as he gathered his feet shortly and fired over to first, to complete the SwampBats' victory in the Northern Division semifinal round.

Now the SwampBats have earned a day off after the sweep, and now look to take on the winner of Sunday's game 3 matchup between the North Adams SteepleCats and the Sanford Mainers in round 2. The Northern Division Finals will begin Monday night at Alumni Field!