Bedford Native O’Connell Helps Bats Win First Half of Granite State Challenge
Duke Product Pitches Five One-Run Innings, Delivers Game-Winning RBI Single at Plate
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NASHUA, N.H. – Aiden O'Connell (Duke) pitched five innings of one-run ball while striking out seven and delivered what ultimately was the game-winning RBI single in the top of the fifth as the Keene SwampBats edged the Nashua Silver Knights 2-1 in a Granite State Challenge seven-inning exhibition game on Monday night at Holman Stadium.
The Bats (16-15-1 NECBL) scored first on Charlie Meglio's (Rutgers) RBI single in the top of the first that plated Chris Polemeni (Connecticut) after he walked on five pitches to begin the game, and that run stood up in a pitcher's duel until Robby Grasso's run-scoring single to left in the fourth tied it at one. Keene responded quickly to take the lead, though, as Avery Smith (Penn State) led off the fifth with a double, moved to third on Gavin Speirs' (Charleston Southern) productive out, and scored when O'Connell pulled a go-ahead base hit into right for a 2-1 lead. He even then stole two bases but was left at third. His pitching did the rest of the work, as he fanned seven over five innings including two each in the second and fourth innings.
Nashua's (19-19 FCBL) run came thanks to a two-out rally in the fourth, as Caleb Vacchiano doubled and scored on consecutive singles by Mason Wilson and Robby Grasso.
Nursing a one-run lead, Parker Lind (Kent State) mowed down the Silver Knights over the final two frames to pick up a save, striking out five of the six batters he faced including all three in the seventh.
Declan Wilkes surrendered the go-ahead run in the fifth and took the loss for the hosts, who have won six Futures League championships in franchise history. Bristol, Martha's Vineyard, and North Shore are all organizations that have played in the FCBL at one point or another in their histories before joining (or rejoining in the case of North Shore) the NECBL.
Colten Shaffer allowed one run and two hits in a two-inning start for the Silver Knights.
The second half of the 2026 exhibition series will take place on July 28 at 6:35 p.m. in Keene.
The Bats return to NECBL action tomorrow (Tuesday, July 14) when they travel to Groton, Conn. to take on the Mystic Schooners (18-11). Keene fell to Mystic 5-2 at home last week as part of their six-game losing streak.