Keene Dominates Against Upper Valley for Their Seventh Consecutive Win

Keene, N.H. - The SwampBats (29-11) continued their hot streak as they thrived in every aspect of the game Thursday night. Whether it was pitching, hitting, fielding, or baserunning, the SwampBats had all facets of their game working in an 11-2 team win over the Upper Valley Nighthawks (16-21).

James Lordi (Central Florida) had the start on the bump as he was looking for a bounce-back outing. He made quick work of the Nighthawks in the first, only allowing one baserunner to reach, who ended up getting stranded. Jack Herring (East Carolina) got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning as he drove home Ty Mainolfi (Boston) to make it 1-0.

Lordi started the second inning with a strikeout, but after having two outs, he let up a go-ahead two-run homer to make the game 2-1. Though in the home-half of the second, Ryan Jaros (Rutgers) ties the game at 2 with a solo shot.

The pitching staff for the Bats then slammed the door for the rest of the way. Momentum was taken over after Michael O'Brien (Little Rock) blasted a go-ahead two-run homer in the third inning, making it 4-2.

After Lordi's final inning of work, tallying a total of four strikeouts and 2 earned runs, the SwampBats ran away with the ballgame. It all started with a Chandler Tuupo (Charleston Southern) walk and a Connor Peek (Georgetown) infield single. Mainolfi then knocks in Tuupo to extend the Bats' lead. Peek goes on to score from third after Mainolfi went to steal second, but the throw over got away as no one was covering the bag. Herring drove in Manolfi for a second time this game. After a series of walks and wild pitches, the SwampBats went on to score a total of 7 runs in the inning, making it 11-2.

John Malone (Samford) was the next man on the mound for the Bats, as he was asked to eat up some innings for this pitching staff, and he did not fail. Malone went 3 innings without allowing a run and only 1 hit. He created quick outs by attacking the zone, letting the ball get put in play, and striking out one batter without any walks. Marcello Mastroianni (Duke) worked the eighth inning as he only walked a batter but stranded him, not allowing a blemish.

Head Coach Shaun McKenna called upon a usual catcher of his to come out on the mound and pitch to close the game out. TJ Schuyler (Indiana), who pitched an inning for the SwampBats last year, was feeling good out there, pumping his fastball 90-91 MPH. After allowing a 2 out hit, he struck out the final batter he faced to seal the 11-2 victory.

The SwampBats are back at home to take on the North Adams SteepleCats for an exciting Friday night matchup on July 25th. First pitch is set for 6:35 and will be streamed on ESPN+.