Montpelier, VT - By Brendan Bowlin. The opening game in the 2025 Governor’s Cup series between the Nighthawks and the Mountaineers didn’t disappoint. Upper Valley, with one out and down one run, rallied in a three-run surge in the top of the ninth to stun the fans in Montpelier to earn their second straight win, 6-4.

The Nighthawks would start the game off strong. In the top of the first, Nick Monile drew a leadoff walk, but would be put out due to an unfortunate line drive double play. However, that didn’t deter the Nighthawks, as Kyle Neri reached on an error in the outfield and would score thanks to an RBI single from Anthony Greco. 

The Mountaineers scored their first run in the bottom of the second inning after back-to-back walks led to an RBI single from Pagano to square things up at one apiece. In the third, Vermont had a one-out single from Jaylen Hernandez, followed by a walk issued to Acker, and Braden Smith would ground out to Greco, but that brought in Hernandez, who advanced on 2 swiped bases. With two outs now in the inning, Conlan Daniel hit a double into center field, scoring Acker and run number 3 for the Mountaineers. 

The Mountaineers would tack on one more after Nate Isler came in relief for Hemmesch after three innings of his start. Hemmesch would end his start with four strikeouts. Brendan Buecker would walk after a Matthew Minckler strikeout, he would be out on a fielder’s choice from Tank Yaghoubi, who would score the fourth run for Vermont after a Foster Apple Single into right field, which was a bit of trouble for the Nighthawks to haul in after a big throw from Joey Dwyer. 

A four-to-one lead for the Mountaineers headed into the top of the fifth was a positive thrill for the fans at home. Upper Valley answered back with a run in that top half of the inning, with Nick Monile reaching on a two-base error with one out. Monile would steal third a bit later and score on an RBI Double from Kyle Neri to cut the lead in half, four to two. Upper Valley would continue to claw its way into scoring, but neither team put up runs in the sixth or seventh innings. But with six outs to their name and their backs against the wall in a rivalry road game, the Nighthawks needed several moments to make a comeback happen. 

The 8th inning was crucial; Anthony Greco would lead things off with a walk and advance to second on a wild pitch during Nicholas Mazzotta’s at-bat. With a Mazzotta flyout, put out number two on the board, it left Nick Shuhet, one of the several Rider products on this squad. After falling behind 0-2 in the count, a wild pitch sent Greco to third, which a base knock would send in the third run. Shuhet did just that, getting a clutch single to score Greco and put the Nighthawks down one in the top of the eighth. Cooper Blauser flew out to end the top half of the eighth, and it was in the hands of new pitcher JT Guerrero. Guerrero lived for the moment; he got out of a runner on the corners with one out jam in the seventh, but now needed to hold the one-run deficit in the bottom of the eighth. He did just that, forcing a 1,2,3 inning to put the Nighthawks up to bat. 

The ninth and final inning of a one-run ballgame can have its moments, but what the fans in Montpelier were going to see were fireworks. Bryce Gluckman would come into relief for the Mountaineers in the ninth to try and shut the door, but the Nighthawks would bust right through. Monile would battle for a one-out walk, Anthony Brotz came in to pinch hit a ground ball that beat the shift to put runners on the corners for the Nighthawks. Kyle Neri, after a 5-pitch battle, would hit a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game up at four apiece. He finished the night with 2 RBIs. Anthony Greco followed up with a single in the infield to move the go-ahead run in Brotz into scoring position. Brotz moved 90 feet on a wild pitch during Ryan Preisano’s at-bat, which felt like a battle that would never end. It was on the ninth pitch that Preisano hit a sharp grounder to third. Acker had to quickly field and fire, but the throw was not in time. Preisano, in his first start with the Nighthawks, had driven in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth. The rally was not over, though. Mazzotta would battle for a walk to force a pitching change for the Mountaineers. It was Joshua Rivera to stepped in for Vermont, who had a rough start to his battle against Nick Shuhet. Rivera would throw a bouncer on a 2-2 count that would escape to the backstop, and in came Greco to score run number six. Shuhet would strike out, but now it was Upper Valley who had all the momentum. 

Mason Phillips came in for Guerrero with match point to the home side. He would have to face the solid top of the order for the Mountaineers. Tank Yaghoubi would fly out to Monile for out number one. It was a minor setback in the next at-bat against Paul Napolitano, who would get a walk on a five-pitch battle. The Mountaineers would have Ashton Gillo pinch-hit for Jaylen Hernandez; he would battle to an even 1-1 count before a chopper to Mazzotta who steps on second, then fires the throw to Greco to turn the double play and snag the win on the road.

J.T. Guerrero is credited with the win for the Nighthawks. He pitched an inning and two-thirds of no-hit ball, allowing one walk and striking out two. Mason Phillips gets the save in his ninth-inning appearance. Nate Hertzler earned the loss for the Mountaineers. In two-thirds of an inning in relief, he would give up three hits and three runs that would all be earned in his ninth inning appearance. He also gave up two walks. 

The Nighthawks are 3-1 on the season and will come back home to take on the North Adams Steeple Cats on Thursday for a 6:00 PM first pitch.