KEENE, N.H. – (MyKeeneNow) The SwampBats’ four game winning streak was snapped as their comeback attempts fell short in a 17-9 loss to the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Friday.

The Nighthawks scored three runs in the top of the second on a hit-by-pitch, an RBI triple that Joe Jaconski (Penn State) almost caught down the right field line, and a home run off the top of the center field fence. They tried to run away with the game in the third, tallying five runs on five singles and two walks, while also forcing the SwampBats into an early pitching change. With the Alumni Field crowd quiet and an 8-0 score, Princeton’s Jake Koonin gave them something to cheer about. After an Austin Hawke (Wake Forest) double and a Jaconski walk, Koonin belted a pitch over the left-center field fence to bring the score back to 8-3. Upper Valley scored two more times in the top of the fourth on an error and a sacrifice fly, making it 10-3.

In the bottom of the fourth, the SwampBats fought back once more. Andrew Wiggins (Indiana) was hit by a pitch, and he was replaced by Hawke after a fielder’s choice. Jaconski ripped a double to move Hawke to third, and Koonin singled him home. Josh Kross (Cincinnati) came up in a big spot next and belted his second home run of the season to the right-center field scoreboard, re-energizing the youth-heavy crowd on Camper night and bringing the score to 10-7. Upper Valley hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth to increase the advantage, but Keene responded with an Aaron Graeber RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, scoring Ripken Reese (Kent State) for an 11-8 score. The game got away from the SwampBats in the top of the seventh, as two one-out singles and a pitching change were followed by three consecutive walks. A fielder’s choice and an error later, the Nighthawks had scored six runs in the inning on just two hits to take a 17-8 lead. Koonin continued his phenomenal night with his fifth home run of the season in the bottom half. It was the SwampBats’ league-leading 24th home run of the season. Koonin finished with four hits and five RBIs on the night. Alex Calarco (Maryland) also reached base four times in the game. The final two innings of the three-hour and 45-minute marathon passed by scoreless.

Keene (12-6) is home again on Saturday for Timken night against the Valley Blue Sox. It will also be Star Wars Night presented by Corning.