Game 3 Recap: Nighthawks 6, Mountaineers 4

Vermont's Gabe Levanti gets a lead /VM Photo

For the second game in a row, the Mountaineers bullpen faltered, coughing up a four-game lead as they dropped a 6-4 decision to nearby rival Upper Valley. The Nighthawks fell behind 4-0 early, but slowly chipped away at the lead before scoring four runs in the final three innings to win their first game of the season.

Top Play (WPA)

Trent Leimkuehler's go-ahead RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning was the game's top play (.325), as it completed the four-run comeback for the Nighthawks. Leimkuehler had gone 0-for-4 in Upper Valley's season opening loss to the Mountaineers, but he finished 2-for-4 in his second game with the decisive RBI. 

Three Notes

1. Blown leads -- Vermont's offense has built leads of 4-1 and 4-0 the last two times, but relievers haven't been able to hold on. In Friday night's 5-4 loss to Winnipesaukee, it was Morgan Maguire (Old Dominion), who gave up three earned runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings. Last night, it was left-hander Kevin Kernan (Stony Brook). Kernan entered in the fifth with Vermont up by two runs and quickly retired the first five batters he faced, striking out four of them. He ran into trouble though, and gave up RBI singles to Charlie Concannon and Sean Breen to let the Nighthawks tie it. He was handed the loss the following inning, giving up Leimkuehler's double with one out.

2. Missed opportunities -- Vermont had a season-high 10 hits, but stranded 12 runners. They loaded the bases in the first but couldn't push across a run. They left two on in the second and three more in the third. The Mountaineers also had a runner thrown out in the plate in the seventh inning, as Jeremy Giles (Stony Brook) was caught after trying to score from second on a single to center field.

3. Upper Valley relievers -- Nighthawks starter Dakota Edwards struggled through 2 1/3 innings, walking four and allowed four earned runs on six hits. Reliever Jarod Yoakam allowed the runners he inherited from Edward to score, but it was the work done after that which was impressive. The trio of Dylan Verdonk, Joseph Levasseur, and Nick Jones, combined for six scoreless innings. They only allowed three hits while walking two and striking out six. Verdonk beared the brunt of the load, throwing four shutout innings while allowing just two hits. Levasseur put two runners on with nobody out in the ninth, but Jones got the save by entering and setting down three in order. 

Up Next

Vermont has an off day, then attempts to end the early two-game losing streak when they travel to Sanford, Maine. The Mainers dropped their season opener but have won both matchups since, starting the year 2-1. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.