The Swampbats had lost two in a row, dropping to fourth in the Northern Division. They needed a jolt after two back-to-back four-plus hour games and Mitchell Golden was there for the men in purple.

Golden, who had a golden opportunity to score Will Wagner from third in the bottom of the eighth, hit a slow roller to Schooner shortstop Isaiah Byars. Byars bobbled the ball, scoring Wagner and Golden being awarded an infield single.

Golden’s hit won the game for Keene, beating a top-ranked team in the NECBL as Mystic is tied for the best record with the North Adams Steeplecats.  

“I was just trying to hit the ball on the ground. I’ve been hitting the ball too many times in the air, so it was a successful at-bat for myself regardless,” Golden replied.

Keene, who goes to 8-6 on the season, had another phenomenal start from Luke Albright. Albright, who gave up five earned runs in Winnipesaukee, revamped himself with 6 and 1/3 innings of three-run ball. 

It did not look in favor of Keene as a 2-0 fastball from Albright in the first was ripped to left by first basemen Terry “TT” Bowens, putting Mystic up 1-0. Albright would retaliate with two strikeouts.

Keene would not let the one run deficit last long as newcomer Ryan Hogan, who drove to Keene the day of the game, would hit a three-run homer to left, scoring Kyle Ball and Tommy Joseph.

Hogan, who is a mid-season transfer from the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks and a redshirt sophomore at St. John’s, is the second Swampbat to homer in his first season at-bat, alongside David Matthews.

Matthews, who missed three games due to strep throat, was back in the order, going 0 for 2 with a sac grounder in the eighth, which put Wagner on third and allowing Golden to score him.

Though Keene had a 3-1 lead, Mystic slowly crept back with another homer to left, this time from shortstop Isaiah Byars in the fifth.

The game, which ran a total of 2 hours and 18 minutes, is arguably the shortest game of the year for Keene and one that they desperately need.

“We didn’t use as many pitchers tonight and we have plenty for tomorrow against Valley,” said Golden.

“It’s a great win but we have to come back stronger than ever tomorrow night.”

In the seventh, with Nolan Kessinger on second, Byars would come up big again with an RBI double over David Matthews head, as Mystic tied the game at three.

With Byars on second, Albright was taken out and Marc Davis came in.

Davis, who made three appearances in relief this week, walked Mystic DH Josh Maguire, and then gave up a single to Will Lucas to make it bases loaded and one out.

Davis, who has been drafted as a third baseman by the Chicago Cubs in this year’s draft, would be flawless as he then got leadoff hitter Steve Barmakian to hit into a fielder’s choice as Davis threw out Byars at home and then getting Shane Kelly to ground out to first.  

Davis would go 1 2/3 innings, not giving up an earned run for a third straight relief outing, getting his first win of the season, and adding two strikeouts to his season stats.

With a 4-3 lead in the ninth, Justin Willis entered the game and, with pinch runner Jerome Huntzinger on base and one out, made the first successful pickoff attempt for Swampbats pitchers as an outside pickoff move caught Huntzinger off first.

Willis then struck out Will Lucas, giving Keene the win.

It’s the first comeback win of the season for the Swampbats and one that could not have come at a better time as it ends their two-game skid.

Albright gets a no-decision but another fantastic start by the Kent State University right-hander keeps Keene in the playoff hunt. The righty added eight more strikeouts to his stat line, improving his season number to 30 and extending his team lead.

With only two relief pitchers used tonight, Keene will turn to Antonio Knowles tomorrow to start the game against the Valley Blue Sox in what will most likely be the first bullpen game for the Giant Purple People Eaters.

With big matchups against North Adams and Winnipesaukee for the weekend, Keene looks to keep the win streak alive and put themselves back at the top of the Northern Division.