Matt D'Amato is hitting .321 in the leadoff spot for the Nashua Silver Knights, one of the bright spots in an otherwise tough 4-11 start to the season. (Photo courtesy of Nashua Silver Knights)

NASHUA – The Nashua Silver Knights return to Holman Stadium for the first time in a week later today.

The facility has to be a welcome site for the local Futures Collegiate Baseball League entry, which dropped four straight on the road to fall to 4-11, currently in last place.

This certainly isn’t the start the Knights wanted after missing the playoffs for the first time in their history a year ago.

Today at 6 p.m., they’ll take on the New Britain Bees, who come in 7-8, and the two teams will know each other well by the end of the week. That’s because Nashua heads to New Britain on Wednesday and Friday. In between the Knights have a Thursday home game vs. Brockton.

The rest of the week: at the Westfield Star Fires on Saturday night, then back at Holman vs.Pittsfield at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

LINEUP CONSTANTS

Unlike like last year’s poor start, the Silver Knights aren’t exactly devoid of offensive talent, although they’re only hitting .243 as a team. That’s good for sixth in the eight team league.

Leadoff hitter Matt D’Amato is hitting .321 with an on base percentage of .412 and four steals. Richie Paltridge has probably had the best start at the plate, hitting .357 with three doubles, two triples, a homer and 13 RBIs, and an OPS of .926. And St. Thomas of Dover alum Will MacLean has an OPS of .838, hitting .349.

As for pitching, Brayden Clark has a 1.72 earned run average in three starts. Jonah Wachter is 1-0, 2.45 in two starts. Third starter Shea Ryan is at 3.00. However, the bullpen has at times let Nashua down as the team ERA is 5.87.

Believe it or not, that’s not last – sixth as well. Brockton is seventh at 5.95 and Pittsfield is last with a team ERA of 6.94.

ATTENDANCE SHORTCHANGED

The Silver Knights are fifth in attendance with an average of 1,338 in six dates, but unfortunately that doesn’t include the Education Day exhibition game attendance of 3,254. If that is included, the attendance jumps to 1,611, which would put Nashua second in the league.

PLENTY OF HOME GAMES AHEAD

Nashua is on the road for nine of 12 for this week and last. Well, this Sunday the Silver Knights begin a stretch in which they’ll be home for 10 of their next 14 games, going all the way to their first-ever July 4 game at Holman.