Bravehearts

Westfield, MA -  In just his fourth and fifth game with Worcester, it was soon-to-be freshman and Worcester Academy graduate Matt Shaw of Brimfield (Maryland) who was the star of the show for Worcester’s double header in Westfield on Tuesday night. The centerfielder went a combined 3-5 with four runs and four RBIs in the two games. Ben Rice (Dartmouth) added on with a 5-7 combined performance with a home run, six RBI and two runs

Worcester jumped out early in game one. Shaw led the game off getting hit by a pitch followed by back-to-back walks to EJ Exposito (NYIT) and Rice. Ben McNeill (NYIT) hit into a FC at second allowing Shaw to score. A sac-fly from Tyler Patane (Franklin Pierce) scored another Exposito making the score 2-0. 

The Bravehearts added another run in the third when McNeill grounded into a double play to bring home Shaw. Shaw would score for a third time in the fifth after he doubled and was brought home by a Rice single. A two run double from Aiden Wilde (Stonehill) would plate Rice and McNeill.

Angelo Baez (St. Thomas Aquinas) got the win in game one for Worcester going six innings giving up two runs (both unearned), and three hits while striking out five. Worcester took game one with a 6-3 final.

In game two, it was Shaw again who got the scoring going with a solo home run to lead off the game. The righty continued to produce in the very next inning with a sacrifice fly scoring Zachary DeMattio (Wheaton). With Chade Shade (Springfield) and Nick Martin (Westfield) both hitting singles Rice stepped up. On a full count, he blasted an opposite field home-run over the left field wall making the score 5-0. 

The newest Braveheart continued his white-hot day in the third. A two run single from Shaw scoring McNeill and Martin gave Worcester a 7-0 lead and advanced Shaw’s RBI total to four for the game. Shaw then came into score along with Danny Torres on a two-run single from Ben Rice increasing the lead to 9-0. 

Despite a late comeback attempt by Westfield, Worcester was able to take the second game by a final of 10-5.

The Bravehearts return home tomorrow to face the Westfield Starfires at Doyle Field. First pitch is at 6:00 pm.