Telegraph photo by TOM KING Nashua Silver Knights' Troy Schreffler, Jr. is tagged out by Worcester's E.J. Exposito trying to steal third n the first inning of Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Bravehearts in Game 1 of the FCBL Finals at Holman Stadium.

NASHUA – Round One to Worcester.

The problem is, if you’re the Nashua Silver Knights, you can’t afford to lose Round Two, because then it’s over.

That’s because the Bravehearts Thursday night took Game 1 of the best-of-three Futures Collegiate Baseball League Finals by a 3-2 tally before a lively crowd of 708 at Holman Stadium.

“It was their night tonight, but we gave them a fight,” Silver Knights manager Kyle Jackson said. “But they’re going to have to earn this championship if they’re going to win it. Same the other way around.”

But the fact remains the Bravehearts, on the strength of E.J. Exposito’s RBI single to snap a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth, can capture their record fifth FCBL crown today in Game 2 at 6 p.m. at Holman. Worcester was technically the home team last night but it’s Nashua’s home game tonight.

It won’t be easy as the Knights will face Worcester starter Angel Baez who went 3-1, 1.28 this summer but is 2-0, 2.25 vs. the Knights. Nashua will counter with lefty Nick Guarino, 4-0, 1.12.

“He’s good, we know what he’s got,” Jackson said of Baez. “He commands his fastball, he’s got off-speed, his changeup.

“And they’re going to face Guarino (1.1 scoreless frames, three strikeouts vs. Worcester), the same thing. He doesn’t throw hard but commands all his pitches. It’ll be another good game tomorrow.”

Last night’s game was what you’d expect from the league’s top two teams. Nashua starter Griffin Young didn’t have his command, and gave up two first inning runs on a Ben Rice RBI groundout and a wild pitch.

Nashua didn’t counter until the seventh with a two-run homer to right off Bravehearts starter Cole Chudoba by new fan favorite Kyle Bouchard, his third round tripper since joining the team barely two weeks ago.

But enter the bottom of the eighth. Knights lefty reliever Jack Pawloski, after a scoreless seventh, gave up one-out bloop hits to Worcester’s Nick Martin and Matt Shaw. Then he hung a curve ball that Exposito, who came in hitting .156 vs. Nashua but lined a single to left.

“Pawloski hung one curve ball and he got hit,” Jackson said. “A bloop hit, broken bat, a hanger, it happens. I’m proud of this team for its resilience.”

So was Worcester manager Alex Dion of his own club, which finished just a half-game ahead of Nashua with a scrappy approach.

“We’ve done it all year,” he said. “We’ve found different ways to win, different guys have stepped up for us. I’m proud of all of them, but I’m really proud of E.J.for being that big for us in that big of a spot.”

Nashua had a chance to tie it in the ninth when Ben Rounds led off against Worcester reliever Jakob Barker and pinch runner Thomas Crowley stole second and went to third on Max Viera’s sacrifice bunt. But pinch-hitter Lucas Stalman grounded out with the infield in and Troy Schreffler, Jr. fanned to end it.

Nashua had other opportunities early, but besides hitting into two double plays, Schreffler (manager’s call) was thrown out by league MVP catcher Rice trying to steal third in the first inning and John Mead (on his own) was gunned down by Rice in the fifth.

“We hit into two double plays, we tried to steal third twice and it didn’t happen,” Jackson said. “We’ve been doing it all year, and I love the aggressiveness that we have.”

And he had to love Bouchard, the Nichols College power threat that Knights GM Cam Cook brought in knowing another power threat, Dom Keegan, was leaving for Vanderbilt.

“He competes,” Jackson said. “He gives us great at bats. His defense was amazing tonight. He came up clutch with the two run (homer). Gave us a big spark.”

The Knights were hoping for the same from Young, who often lacked command and gave up five hits in 3.1 innings, walking two and hit a batter. But he minimized the damage.

“We didn’t get the best performance out of Young but he kept us in the game without his stuff,” Jackson said. “He competed with what he had.”

Dion has to like his chances with Baez.

“We’re lined up well, but Nashua’s a good team,” he said. “We’ve got to come out and bring it and hopefully close this thing out.”

The Silver Knights won’t make that easy. Game 3, if necessary, is Saturday at 6 at Holman.

“I’m super proud of this team tonight,” Jackson said. “They got all the jitters out, and they’ll come back.”

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