Nighthawks Walked-Off by Bristol in Back and Forth Contest

By Thaddeus Sawyer

For just the third time all summer on Wednesday, the Nighthawks came out on the wrong end of a one-run contest. 

Despite taking a two-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning in a game that featured five lead changes, the Nighthawks (20-16-1) could not hold on against the Bristol Blues (20-19), collapsing in the bottom of the frame and losing 9-8.

The one-run loss was the Nighthawks’ first since June 26 against the North Adams SteepleCats. Upper Valley is now 5-2-1 in contests decided by one run or less in 2026.

It looked like that win total would tick up to six after the top of the ninth inning, as the Nighthawks pushed across two runs to break a 6-6 deadlock.

With just a few pitches notice and no practice swings, catcher AJ DeMastrie stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and a pair of outs already on the board. 

“Not a ton of heads up, but kind of just trust the hitter I am and know I can put a good swing on something,” DeMastrie said.

After taking ball one, DeMastrie slashed a worm burner past a diving Nick Flores at second base to score two runs and take the lead.

“First pitch, take all the way, just readjust my eyes,” DeMastrie said. “Saw it pretty well. Then, right from there, just have the confidence to get a good pitch and put a good swing on it.”

DeMastrie, who missed most of the last two weeks due to an injury and had taken just seven plate appearances since a July 6 contest against the Blues, was the third Dartmouth College player to slot into the designated hitter spot on the day. Alejandro Puig started the game while Ethan Brown was the first batter to pinch hit for the sixth spot in the order.

The two run lead seemed all but certain to be enough for the Nighthawks as all-star closer Charlie Jones, who hadn’t allowed an earned run in 15 innings on the summer, jogged in from the bullpen. 

Then the Blues started chipping away. It was slow at first. A 3-1 walk for shortstop Evan Menzel. Flores did the same. The Nighthawks got a jolt of momentum with a groundout from center fielder Antonio Ducatelli but were then faced with two runners in scoring position.

That led to right fielder and three-hole hitter Chris DiPrima standing in the right-handed batter’s box. Like clockwork, the Yale University on-base machine promptly sent a single back up the middle to score a run and layer even more pressure on Jones.

Another walk loaded the bases for Martavius Thomas’ first NECBL plate appearance. The outfielder, who made his league debut an inning earlier, stood tall in the box as a pitch ran inside to clip him for an RBI hit by pitch.

With the score tied 8-8, the Nighthawks had already recorded the final out of the day. It took first baseman Nicholas Francuzenko just one pitch to line a ball off the glove of Jones, the ball bouncing into the outfield as DiPrima crossed home and the stadium lights at Muzzy Field frantically flickered. As bottles of water created a personal rain shower over Francuzenko, the Nighthawks were left trotting into the visitor clubhouse with their second walkoff loss of the season.

Making his second start of the summer, Nighthawks left-hander Danny Lazaro once again impressed through four innings, allowing just two runs while punching out a pair in a second-straight solid outing. The Virginia Tech pitcher faced just 10 batters through his first three innings of work, inducing two double plays in the process, before running into trouble in the fourth and surrendering a two-run home run to Bristol outfielder Cal Chance.

“We talk a lot about the one pitch process,” Lazaro said. “A pitch doesn't go your way, so what? You’ve got the next pitch. That's really all it is.”

In two starts and eight innings since joining the rotation, Lazaro sports a 2.25 ERA compared to his 6.75 ERA in four appearances and 5 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. Lazaro said that he has benefitted from going through the routine of a starting pitcher.

“I would say my preparation day by day has been really good, so it's been helping me out a lot,” Lazaro said.

Brian Smith came in for the top of the fifth but departed after recording just two outs and relinquishing three runs. The Canisius University right-hander issued free passes to the first three batters he faced before Ducatelli sent a bases-clearing double down the third base line.

That two-bagger took back the lead for Bristol after the Nighthawks had tied the game in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from first baseman Jonathan Holt and a sacrifice fly off the bat of shortstop Frank Kelly.  

After catcher Nick Quagliato notched a clutch two-RBI single in the seventh and scored on a wild pitch later in the inning to tie the contest, the Nighthawks took their first lead of the contest in the eighth on a fly out from Holt.

Holt was the only Nighthawk to post a multi-hit performance. The St. Joseph's University infielder also made multiple run-saving plays at first on the day with solid adjustments on poor throws from around the infield.

Francuzenko posted a run-scoring fly out in the bottom of the eighth to set up DeMastrie’s temporary heroics.

Artie Green and Jackson Caldwell both made scoreless appearances out of the bullpen for Upper Valley, while Reis Heigle gave up an unearned run in his NECBL debut.

Former Nighthawks reliever Jack Ruditzky, helping out his former squad by allowing three earned runs in 1 1/3 innings.

With the win, Bristol swept the season series against the Nighthawks, 2-0. The Blues previously beat Upper Valley at the Maxfield Sports Complex on July 6, 9-5.

The Nighthawks will return to the Max Friday to host the North Division-leading Sanford Mainers (24-13), who currently hold a 3-2 lead in the season series. 

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. The contest will stream live on ESPN+.