Bravehearts

Worcester- In the second game of their season, the Bravehearts were not able to come out on top against North Shore. The Navigators allowed only two hits while putting up twelve runs against ‘Hearts pitching. 

After a no-hit performance by Worcester in their opening game, Worcester dug themselves a hole early against North Shore. After back-to-back hits by the Navigators, followed by a hit-by-pitch, the bases were loaded with no outs. A sacrifice fly by Sean Lawlor brought home Nolan Watson for the first run of the game. Tyler MacGregor then followed with a two-run single scoring Andrew Olszak and Ben Maglieri.

Worcester answered quickly in the bottom of the first as John Thrasher walked to lead off the inning and steal second. After Thrasher tagged up to third on a fly-out by Jakob Sessa, he then scored on a groundout by Jack Gardner. 

North Shore grabbed the run right back in the top of the fourth with a solo home run by Colin Macko to right-center field. The fourth inning ended up being starter Jakob Barker’s last as his final line was 4 innings pitched, six hits, four earned runs, one walk and three strikeouts. 

The Navs continued to score in the fifth. After a lead-off walk followed by an error by the second basemen Eric Chavarria, the Navs had runners at the corners with no one out. Louis Olivieri then hit a sac-fly to score Maglieri. Lawlor, who reached on the error then stole second and was singled in by Tyler MacGregor to increase the lead to 6-1. 

Worcester answered with three runs in the fifth. After back-to-back hit by pitches by Aiden Wilde and Craig Corliss, the Bravehearts followed with two walks from Jake Hamel and Nick Martin, which scored Wilde. Thrasher was then the third man in the inning to get hit by a pitch, bringing in Corliss for the ‘Hearts. Jakob Sessa followed with an RBI single to bring in Hamel to bring the game to 6-4. 

Insurance runs for North Shore were added in the eighth. A lead-off triple by Nolan Watson, followed by two consecutive hit batters for Worcester loaded the bases for North Shore. A two run single by Dominic Freeburger increased the lead to 8-4 scoring Watson and Olszak. Louis Olivieri then grounded out to third, bringing home Maglieri. Freeburger then scored on a single from MacGregor to increase the lead to 10-4. 

The runs continued for North Shore in the ninth, after an RBI single by Lawlor scored Joseph Kalafut. Olszak, who singled earlier in the inning, came home after an error by Nick Martin at third off the bat of Freeburger to increase the lead to 12-4. 

For the Navs, Connor Gillette got the start going 4 1/3 innings allowing four earned runs. Jake Gigliotti got the win going 4 2/3 scoreless innings allowing only two hits with six strikeouts. 

The ‘Hearts will be back in action Sunday in Pittsfield against the Suns. Their next home game will be Wednesday at 10:30am for a baseball in education day against the Suns.