Bravehearts

Westfield, MA -  Coming off a dominant 16-2 win over the Bristol Blues, Worcester looked to carry that momentum into Sunday’s game against the Starfires.

In the bottom of the second, Westfield jumped on the board early. Christian Walsh and Thomas Joyce singled, putting two runners on with no outs. Elijah Dale hit a single of his own, brining in Walsh for the first run of the game. 

The answer for Worcester came in the fifth inning. Ben McNeill reached on a walk, and advanced to second on a fielders choice. Jack Gardner hit McNeill in on a bloop single to center to tie the game. As for Westfield, they answered right back. Dolan Ocasal doubled and Angelo DAcunto single to put runners on the corners. A double by Danny Crossen scored both and gave Westfield a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. 

Thomas Joyce led off the sixth inning with a single and advanced to second on an error by the first basemen Paul Coumoulos. A single by Ocasal scored Joyce to bring the Westfield lead to 4-1. 

The Bravehearts took control in the seventh with a big rally. Westfield reliever Tyler Coppo walked the bases loaded as Gardner, Tyler Becker and Joe Pesce all reached. Riley Livingston then hit a two-run double to bring the score to 4-3. Nick Martin continued with a two-run single bringing home Pesce and Livingston. After a double play to clear the bases, Trevor Johnson singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, to third on a balk and then to home on another wild pitch to increase the Worcester lead to 6-4. 

Worcester added an insurance run in the eighth inning. Paul Coumoulos, Gardner and Pesce all walked with one out. Livingston then hit a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 7-4. 

Westfield attempted to answer in the bottom of the inning. Relief pitcher Travis Owens allowed a lead-off walk to Sean Moorhouse followed by another walk to Thomas Joyce. A single by Ocasal scored Moorhouse and trimmed the lead back down to two. 

Despite the coming attempt in the eighth, Worcester managed to strike again in the ninth. A single for Mariano Ricciardi followed by a single by Chris Rinaldi in his first at-bat of the season for Worcester after signing with the team earlier in the day, put two on. Jack Gardner hit a ground ball to third, and an overthrow of first by Christian Walsh allowed Ricciardi and Rinaldi to score. 

Bryce Hellgeth recorded his seventh save of the season in Worcester’s 9-5 victory going 1 1/3 innings. 

Worcester has an off-day tomorrow before visiting Brockton on Tuesday morning for a 10:30 am start time. They will return home on Wednesday to play Brockton once again at 10:30 am.