Bravehearts

Worcester, MA— The Worcester Bravehearts defeated the Nashua Silver Knights Friday night at Fitton Field, 10-1. With the win, Worcester moves to 32-33, while Nashua moves to 27-39. With the win, the Bravehearts clinched their spot in the playoffs. The ‘Hearts will travel to Burlington, Vermont to face the Vermont Lake Monsters tomorrow before returning to Fitton Field on Sunday at 5:00 p.m for Game 2.

Worcester catcher and North Attleboro native Zach DeMattio (Wheaton) opened the scoring in the first inning with a sacrifice fly, bringing in Brimfield native Matt Shaw (Maryland). Nashua would tie the game with a run of their own in the third inning. Lewis Barnum (Bryant) broke the tie in the fourth inning with a double which drove in Mark Darakjy (Northeastern). DeMattio extended the lead to 3-1 in the fifth with another sacrifice fly. 

The Bravehearts broke the game open in the sixth inning, scoring five runs on four hits and one error, bringing the score to 8-1. Barnum, Kenney Mallory Jr. (Vanderbilt), and Cam Caraher (Southern New Hampshire) loaded the bases for Shrewsbury native Nick Martin (Westfield State). Martin’s infield single cleared the bases thanks to an error by Nashua’s first baseman, allowing Martin to score as well. Later in the frame, Shaw scored on a wild pitch.

Worcester hit double digits in runs in the eighth, thanks to singles by Andrew Selima (Merrimack) and Barnum.

Tyler Mudd (Holy Cross) earned the win for the Bravehearts, delivering three shutout innings in which he only allowed two hits and one walk while striking out four. Nashua starter Aidan Crowley (Boston College) was tagged with the loss, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one through 4.1 innings.