Telegraph photo by TOM KING The Nashua Silver Knights celebrate one of their 18 runs on Friday night, much to the chagrin of Brockton catcher Cal Christofori, left.

NASHUA – Jared Dupere had a big smile on his face on Friday night.

“Things are really clicking,” he said. “We’re really coming together.”

He was, of course, talking about the Nashua Silver Knights team he, along with several others, helped pace to an 18-1 rout of Brockton at Holman Stadium. Nashua (17-11) is now 3-0 coming out of the break, and extended its lead for the final FCBL playoff spot to 4.5 games over both the Rox and North Shore.

In fact, the Knights pulled to within a game of the top spot as Worcester (17-9) also lost.

“They came out of the break well-rested,” Silver Knights manager Kyle Jackson said. “They’ve battled. It’s a team that never gives up. I’m very impressed. And tonight, they came out of the gate hot.”

Still, Jackson had a message for his team, which pounded out 21 hits off Rox pitching and hosts New Britain tonight in the second of four straight games at Holman – including the Rox again on Sunday.

“I’ve been on both sides,” Jackson said. “I told them after, don’t let that fool you. That’s not going to be an every game thing. Come (today) and work hard. But when they get hot, they get hot. It’s contagious.”

It started with a five-run second inning off Rox starter Joe Ryan, keyed by a Brett Anderson bloop RBI single just inside the foul line in left, a Lucas Stallman two-run single and a Dupere RBI triple.

Leading 5-1, Nashua blew it open in the fourth with six runs off Rox lefty reliever Ryan Shea. Nashua sent 11 to the plate with seven hits, including a two-run homer by Max Viera.

Stallman led the attack going 4 for 6 with four RBIs, followed by Dupere (3 for 4, three RBIs), Viera (3 for 5, two RBIs), Troy Schreffler, Jr. ( 3 for 5, three runs) and two hits apiece by Anderson, Brady Day, and Nick Perkins (two RBIs). Day, Anderson, Viera, Stallman and Schreffler all scored three runs each. Yikes.

Meanwhile, Nashua’s pitching was superb, paced by five innings of one-run ball by Nichols senior Jack Dicenso. He allowed five hits but K’d five and walked just one to get the win.

“He’s sneaky fast,” Jackson said. “He’s a big kid. It doesn’t look hard, but it’s a heavy ball. He had a good slider tonight, and worked corners which you need to.”

Offensively, Dupere’s return after being away for family reasons has been a catalyst. “It changes the offense,” Jackson said. “It’s a tough lineup for any pitching staff to go through.”

It certainly was last night.

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Reliever Brandon Dufault made his return from a side injury Friday, pitching an inning of scoreless relief with two strikeouts and a walk. “To get him an inning in there with no pressure where he could throw his pitches was a good confidence builder for him,” Jackson said….

Jackson also brought back righty Jackson Walker, who had been on the DL to work out some pitching issues with pitching coach Ariel Ramos. Walker pitched a scoreless one-two-three frame, with a strikeout. “He was super happy to be back,” Jackson said…

The team has added Merrimack College senior Jake Thibault, a righty pitcher who threw the other night at North Shore, plus Nichols senior infielder (mainly at first) Kyle Bouchard. Bouchard, though, won’t arrive until Monday…

Nashua hosts New Britain today at 6 p.m., and the Rox again on Sunday. Prior to Sunday’s game, at 2:30 p.m. the Nashua Lions Club Legends of Holman Hall of Fame induction will be held for Woody Woodland, Maurice Arel, and Al Savage.

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