Silver Knights second baseman A.J. Kolb tags out Starfires base runner Trent Jenks trying to steal during Monday night's FCBL game at Holman Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – All Nashua Silver Knights manager Nick Guarino wants to do is walk out of Historic Holman Stadium at night with a smile on his face and a winning streak, or the start of one, in his pocket.

But that wasn’t the case on Monday night when the Knights inexplicably failed in multple scoring opportunities in a gut-wrenching 1-0 loss at the hands of the Westfield Starfires.

It was just as frustrating for the lively crowd of 896.

“We pitched really well, made all the plays, and the mistakes are on us, we’re the coaches,” Guarino said. “Mistakes are on us. … If they mess up, it’s on us.”

And yes, truth be told, the Silver Knights (7-10) messed up and now head to Lowell tonight looking to snap a three-game losing streak.

The lone run scored in the game came on Morrie Fried’s ninth-inning, two-out single up the middle scoring Easton Sanders who led off the inning with a base hit off Knights reliever and losing pitcher Sachin Gopal (1-1).

Let’s take you through Nashua’s failed attempts against their nemisis, Westfield righty Josh Mayo. Mayo tossed a complete game shutout vs. Nashua a week ago, and last night blanked them for seven. Between the two games he threw 188 pitches.

In the third, Nashua had runners at second and third with two out and Nate Kearney lofted a fly ball to medium center. However, runner Jordan Welch inexplicably did not tag up and try to score, while the less than stellar throw from Starfires center fielder Anthony Armenia skipped into the infield. The next hitter, the .400 hitting Connor Smith, took a called third strike on the outside corner to end the inning. Ouch.

“It was in the moment,” Guarino said. “You’ve got a guy up hitting .400 with runners on second and third and two outs rather than leading off the next inning with nobody on base.”

Next came the biggest sin in the sixth. With runners on first and third after Kearney and Smith singled with one out, Nashua ran the typical play, forcing a throw down to second with Smith running so Kearney could try to score. Problem was, the hitter, Caleb Vacchiano, walked across the plate in frustration after striking out on the pitch. An easy interference call, meaning he was out, so was Smith, and Kearney’s run didn’t count. Ouch.

“It was interference, there were three outs,” Guarino said. “I didn’t even argue. That was just (Vacchiano) striking out and feeling sorry for himself. Walking across the plate. He knew as soon as he walked in (to the dugout), he said “Interference.”

Yep, although a lot of the fans didn’t realize what was going on.

In the next inning, the seventh, Peter Keblinsky singled leading off and one out later appeared headed safely for second on a liner off the bat of Robby Grasso. But the ball was snagged by Starfires first baseman Aiden Barclay for an easy double play.

In the eighth, Welch singled to lead it off and knock Mayo out of the game. But he, too, was doubled up on a potential sacrifice play that was popped up at the plate.

Finally, in the ninth, Vacchiano was called out at first for the second out on a high throw when he was clearly safe. Missed call. “He knew that, they (the umps) said it after the game,” Guarino said.

But there you have it. In the ninth, Gopal’s fastball hurt him, as that’s what Fried got to hit it up the middle after Gopal’s off-speed stuff almost got him out of the jam.

“I’m not happy about it right now,” Guarino said. “It should’ve been 2-1, and now we’re three under (.500). It’s a big swing. … Trust me, I know, I’m aggravated about it.”

And they’ve lost three straight to teams they want to beat out for the third and fourth spots, although it’s early.Nashua sends Malcolm Klingler (0-2, 11.57) to the LeLacheur Park mound at 7 p.m. in a game the Knights really need. Lowell (5-12) is playing better, last night’s 10-0 loss to New Britain aside.

“Back against walls again,” Guarino said. “We just can’t get to the point where we win two games in a row and it’s ‘Hey, we’re in a good spot.'”

Instead, the Silver Knights are in a tough spot partly of their own making.