Bravehearts

Worcester, MA— The Worcester Bravehearts were swept in their doubleheader against the New Britain Bees Thursday morning at Fitton Field. Worcester lost the first game 6-4, and the second 9-1. With the two losses, Worcester moves to 20-18, while New Britain improves to 18-20 .

Game 1 – New Britain 6, Worcester 4 (F/7)

New Britain got to the Bravehearts early, plating one run in the top of the first inning. Four straight singles by Tayven Kelley (Penn State), Gavin Noriega (Marist), Sebastian Salado (Palm Beach Atlantic), and Matt Maloney (Dayton), paired with a wild pitch and passed ball, led to a 3-1 ‘Hearts lead after the first inning. 

New Britain struck again in the second, scoring on a wild pitch which brought the score to 3-2. The Bees brought the score to 4-3 in the third inning, getting three singles off of Bravehearts starter and Sharon native Max LeBlanc (UMass Amherst). They would score two more in the fourth inning.

Nic Britt (William & Mary) was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Randy Flores (Franklin Pierce), making the score 6-4.

LeBlanc was tagged with the loss, recording three innings of work in which he gave up four runs on four hits, three walks, and a wild pitch while striking out five. Bees reliever Tommy Benincaso (Eastern Connecticut State) was given the win after one inning of two-hit shutout baseball. The save went to New Britain’s Bryson Cafaro (Fairfield) who pitched 2.2 innings, allowing just one walk while striking out five.

Game 2 – New Britain 9, Worcester 1 (F/7) 

In Game 2. New Britain got out to a two-run lead in the first inning, which they would not give up. The Bees scored one each in the second and third, and five in the sixth inning. Shrewsbury native Nick Martin (Westfield State) represented the lone Worcester run, scoring on a wild pitch after reaching base with a walk.

Bravehearts starter Julian Gonzalez (Keystone) was tagged with the loss, giving up three runs on two hits and four walks through two innings. Bees starter Kevin Seitter (Quinnipiac) got the win after holding Worcester to just one run on five hits and one walk while striking out six through five innings. 

Worcester will face the Silver Knights in Nashua tomorrow, July 16^th with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m. The Bravehearts return home to Fitton Field on Tuesday, July 20^th for a 6:30 p.m. game, also against the Silver Knights.