Written by Ethan Hudson

NEW BRITAIN – The New Britain Bees topped the Nashua Silver Knights 9-8 at home in wild walk-off fashion. The Bees improve to 25-18 and get the win in their first game back in action after the all-star break.

New Britain starter Alex Casey (Union/Woburn, MA) made his second start of the season, throwing four innings, giving up three hits, and one earned run in a solid outing to give the team an early boost.

Nashua’s offense got runs on the board early, behind two-run double in the top of the second inning that gave them a 2-0 lead. On the other hand, the Bees’ offense got off to a slow start, as they didn’t get their first knock until the bottom of the fourth inning.

It was the bottom of the fourth, however, where the Hive was awakened. Davis Hanson (Georgetown/Winston-Salem, NC) sliced a double down the left field line, and then an RBI single off the bat of Tyler Garbooshian (Rutgers/Brick, NJ) made it a 2-1 ballgame.

New Britain stung again in the bottom of the fifth inning, when AJ Montejano (Stonehill/East Lyme, CT) got things going with a single. The next Bees batter, Grady Schopps (Salve Regina/Fairfield, CT), ripped a double down the left field line, sending Montejano to third. Then, in a moment that foreshadowed how the night would end for New Britain, a wild pitch allowed Montejano to score, evening the game at 2.

The top of the sixth inning proved to be the most tumultuous for the Bees’ pitching. A string of Nashua hits allowed a run to score, and then three straight walks issued by New Britain allowed two more runs to cross home plate. Finally, a throwing error granted the Silver Knights another run, propelling them to a 6-2 lead. By the time the Bees secured the third out, Nashua scored four runs on just two hits.

Although the stadium was silenced, New Britain was not finished. After walking, George Slauson (UConn/Plymouth, MA) (leads Futures League in total walks) advanced to second on a hit-by-pitch, and then third on a deep flyout. A throwing error by the Silver Knights’ catcher allowed him to score, chipping the deficit down to 6-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, Nashua once again had self-inflicted wounds that resulted in New Britain runs. After a Montejano walk, a Schopps HBP, and a single by Owen Rich (Binghamton/Wallingford, CT), another wild pitch sent Montejano home to score. An RBI groundout by Amato Civitello (UConn/East Haven, CT) scored Schopps, and a fielder’s choice scored Rich. The inning concluded with the ballgame once again tied, this time at 6-6.

Nashua would put together two runs in the top of the eighth off a series of hits and a balk to retake an 8-6 lead. New Britain answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half. A Montejano RBI single and another RBI groundout by Civitello made the game 8-8, the third and final tie of the night.

After getting out of the top of the ninth with no damage done, the bottom of the ninth was a magical one for the Bees. Vincent Lombardo (UConn/Trumbull, CT) singled and then advanced to second on a throwing error. Montejano singled, sending Lombardo to third. And then it happened. The third wild pitch of the evening from Nashua’s pitching proved to be its most costly, as Lombardo scored to walk the game off 9-8.

The Bees are no stranger to walk-offs this season, and this one helps them maintain second place in the Futures League, now four games ahead of the Worcester Bravehearts. New Britain will look to build upon this lead, as they square off against the Lowell Spinners on Friday at 6:35 p.m. at home.