Blues back to .500 after victory over Upper Valley

Bristol faced the Upper Valley NightHawks for the first time in the 2026 season and came away with a 9-5 win to improve to 13-13 on the season. 

The Blues loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the second inning. Nick Flores (VCU) grounded to third to score Evan Menzel (UConn). Antonio Ducatelli (Fairfield) doubled to bring in another run and Cal Chance (UMass Lowell) cleared the bases with a triple to cap off a five-run second inning for the Blues. 

In the bottom of the third, Upper Valley strung together three straight hits and put up a pair of runs to cut the Bristol lead to three. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Valley scored two more and made it a 5-4 game.  

Kyle Peters (UConn) was able to limit the NightHawks for the rest of his outing as he went five and two thirds innings allowing four earned runs, two walks and eight hits. 

The Blues pushed the lead back to two runs after Trent Rice (Michigan State) singled, stole third base and came around to score. Bristol added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the eighth inning thanks to five walks from Upper Valley in the inning. The Blues held a 9-4 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. 

James Mulvaney (Fairfield) came on in the ninth inning and the NightHawks were able to get one run back. But it was too little too late as Mulvaney closed out the game and the Blues got the win by a final of 9-5. 

With the win, Bristol is back to .500 on the season and are now fourth in the South Division standings. Bristol is also on a two-game win streak which they will look to extend when they face off against the Ocean State Waves at Muzzy Field on Wednesday.  

Written by Ryan McKenna