Silver Knights starter Vinny Civitella suffered his second loss of the season on Saturday at Westfield. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

WESTFIELD, Mass. — In a week of trials and tribulations for the Silver Knights, Nashua ran into another roadblock Saturday night at the hands of the Westfield Starfires.

Aside from a ninth-inning push, the Knights were shut out through the first eight frames in what would end in a 5-4 Westfield victory.

Nashua would leave 11 runners on base on Saturday for the third time this season, making it the fifth game leaving eight or more men on.

Pace University’s Vinny Civitella made his second start of the season, earning the loss in four innings on two earned runs. Colby’s Tom Rioux was strong in his 2024 debut, giving the Knights three scoreless frames out of the bullpen.

Westfield would pull away in the eighth, extending their 2-0 lead with a three-spot to make it 5-0. Heading to the ninth, Nashua had left runners in scoring position in five of the first eight frames with the Knights needing a spark.

Nashua would break the shutout with an RBI fielder’s choice from Central Michigan’s Drew Loikits. With runners on the corners and two outs, UMass Lowell’s River Hart grooved a ball to right center that would leave Bullens Field in a hurry. In a blink of an eye, the Knights had battled back to make it 5-4.

Westfield would turn the ball over to the lefty out of Keene State, Camden Thomas. Looking for the matchup, the Knights would send up righty Ty Normandie from Delta College. Normandie had a chance to be a hero in his first Nashua at-bat, but Thomas would get him to ground out for number three.

Nashua has been on the doorstep of victory all week, making their 1-5 record sting that much more. Heading into week number two, the Silver Knights will look to put the pieces together to get back on track.

The Silver Knights will welcome the Vermont Lake Monsters today with a 3 p.m. first pitch at Holman Stadium.