SwampBats tie NECBL win streak record in doubleheader split at Upper Valley

KEENE, NH - In their second doubleheader in as many days, the Keene SwampBats broke their all-time franchise record for consecutive wins, and tied the greatest win streak in NECBL history with 11 straight wins, with a 10-5 win in game one. They ended up splitting the day's games, falling 8-7 in game two.

Game One

The top of the first started off well for Keene, as leadoff man Michael O'Brien (Little Rock) drew a walk, and SS Dylan Cupp (Mississippi State) was hit by a pitch. In his first game with Keene this summer, DH Xavier Perez (Houston) laced a one-out double to drive in O'Brien. Cupp came home to score on a wild pitch, and the third run came in the form of 1B Chandler Tuupo's (Charleston Southern) single to score Perez. 

RHP Kyle Peters (UConn) got the ball as the starter, making his first outing since June 12th at Sanford. He went two innings, allowing five runs (four earned), while walking one and fanning three. After two innings, both teams were tied at five apiece. Those five runs would be all the Nighthawks would scratch across for the game.

The Bats struck in the fourth with back-to-back RBI doubles from RF Jack Herring (East Carolina) and Xavier Perez, who totaled two runs batted in on his debut game. RHP Ben Dean (Dayton) got the win from two solid relief innings, holding Upper Valley scoreless and hitless, while sending two Nighthawks down on strikes. Keene's offensive efficiency continued through the end of game one, as they would score in the fourth, fifth, and sixth inning, to take home a 10-5 win, putting the SwampBat winning streak level with the greatest streak the New England League has ever seen, and surpassing the previous franchise record for consecutive wins.

Game Two

The Bats couldn't find as hot of a start the second time around in Upper Valley, going scoreless through the first three innings. RHP Max Weber (Felician) got his first start for Keene, and went four solid innings allowing two runs but fanning four. The two teams finally got the offenses going in the final two innings, as heading into the sixth, Upper Valley was ahead 2-1. 

Keene took their first lead of game two off of Chandler Tuupo's RBI single, followed up by another RBI single from C Ripken Reese (Kent State). Tuupo was able to score on a wild pitch with two outs in the inning, and the Bats headed to the home half with a 4-2 lead.

Upper Valley responded with four runs of their own, and the teams went to the final inning separated by two. Keene didn't give up, and Michael O'Brien led off with a single. SS Dylan Cupp came up in the clutch, and hit his second home run of 2025 to put the game in a 6-6 tie. Ripken Reese drove in another run to give Keene a one-run advantage going into the bottom of the seventh. At the end of the day, Upper Valley was able to rally and score the game winner to put the greatest win streak in league history to an end.

The SwampBats are off on Friday, and head to Bristol to face the leaders of the South Division, the Blues at Muzzy Field on Saturday, June 21st.

First pitch on Saturday is set for 6:30 PM, and the game will be streamed on NECBL+.