Mountaineers Hand Nighthawks First Shutout Loss of Season

By Thaddeus Sawyer

The Vermont Mountaineers (7-13) averaged a run per inning Sunday night, pummeling the Nighthawks (9-9-1), 9-0, to even the 2026 Governor’s Cup series at 1-1.

Though the Mountaineers’ bats performed well in the first meeting between the two teams on June 17, posting six runs in a loss, the Vermont lineup exploded for a season-high 15 hits Sunday. The 15 hits were also the most the Nighthawks’ pitching staff has surrendered in a single game this season.

That hit parade didn’t have to begin until the second inning, as the Mountaineers instead rode the carousel on four free passes from Nighthawks starter Trey Sejnoha. Samuel Bradley forced in the first run of the game after working a full count walk.

Though Sejnoha appeared to settle in after working a scoreless second inning with a pair of punchouts, the Mountaineers punched right back with four hits and a pair of runs in the third. Catcher JJ Parsons picked up his first of two RBIs on the day with a single, while center fielder Vincent Davis placed a ball perfectly on the right field foul line for an RBI double.

An inning later, right fielder and offensive leader Alex Benevento smacked a double of his own to left field for his first RBI of the day, while Parsons recorded a sac fly to begin pushing the contest into blowout territory.

The Nighthawks’ offense managed just four hits on the night, with AJ DeMastrie, Cam Boardman, Anthony Greco and Charley Magoulick each notching a base hit.

Upper Valley erased that offensive production out with four errors defensively, all coming in the sixth inning and leading to a pair of unearned runs against reliever Brian Smith. 

A pair of mistakes on the same play saw Parsons advance to third on an overthrow on a stolen base attempt and come all the way home when center fielder Willie Hurt fell down and nearly sat on the ball trying to corral the errant toss.

Benevento also singled a run home earlier in the inning.

Second baseman Matthew Minkler also posted an RBI single in the ninth before swiping second for his third stolen base of the game. The infielder now leads the NECBL with 14 stolen bases on 17 attempts.

For the first time all season, the Nighthawks didn’t record a stolen base attempt.

Reliever Eric Santaella was one of the lone bright spots, tossing two scoreless innings across the seventh and eighth. After struggling early in the summer as a starter, the right-hander has tossed three innings of scoreless relief work out of the bullpen.

Mason Phillips also struck out a pair in the ninth. The righty is averaging 12 strikeouts per nine innings.

Former Notre Dame and now St. Joseph’s third baseman Jonathan Holt also made his Nighthawks debut, standing out with his golden helmet and getting on base for the first time via a hit by pitch.

Now looking to snap a season-high two-game losing streak, the Nighthawks will be back on the field Monday night in Holyoke as they face the Valley Blue Sox (8-9-1). First pitch at Mackenzie Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Fans can stream the game live on ESPN+.