Josh Florence, shown earlier in the season, took the loss in Game 2 o the doubleheader Sunday at Vermont. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

BURLINGTON, Vt. — The Nashua Silver Knights traveled to Centennial Field in Burlington on Sunday for a doubleheader against the first-place Vermont Lake Monsters, dropping both games to close out the first half before the FCBL All-Star break.

The Silver Knights, losers now of five straight, fall to 20-25 heading into the All-Star break as the Lake Monsters improve to 34-12.

In game one, Nashua jumped out to a 9-3 lead after three innings on the strength of a Mason Wilson (Penn State) grand slam and additional RBI contributions from Caleb Vacchiano (University of Southern Maine), Nate Kearney (Stonehill), and Hunter Troiano (Gannon).

But Vermont answered with seven runs in the bottom of the third, capped by a Brad Johnston (Swarthmore) three-run home run to retake the lead at 10-9.

The Lake Monsters added four more in the fifth on RBI hits from Zach Geertsma (Mississippi State), James Henshon (Tufts), and Tommy Popoff (Binghamton) to go up 14-9 and held on for the 14-10 win despite a late Nashua run.

In game two, Vermont jumped out to a 3-0 lead through two innings on RBI hits from Jake Lopez (Seton Hall) and Brad Johnston. The Knights chipped away with runs in the second, fourth, and sixth innings, with Hunter Troiano (Gannon) and Max Forgione (St. Joseph’s) each driving in runs, but couldn’t overcome the deficit.

Josh Florence (Stonehill) took the loss after allowing 6 runs on 9 hits in 3 innings. Josh Martino bounced back with 3 solid scoreless innings in relief.