Bravehearts

 The Worcester Bravehearts fell 6-4 to the Vermont Lake Monsters Thursday night at Fitton Field. 

The loss drops Worcester to 7-5 while Vermont moves to 10-3. 

Vermont struck quickly in the top of the first. An RBI single by George Cooper (Harvard) that scored Jackson Kline (Kansas) was followed up by a two-run single by Henry Godbout (Virginia) that scored Cooper and Logan Keller (Navy), giving the Lake Monsters a 3-0 lead. 

The Bravehearts responded with a run in the bottom of the inning thanks to a TJ Wachter (Fordham) that brought home Kosta Drosidis (Anna Maria).

The Lake Monsters would tack on two more runs in the third inning, with Jimmy Evans (Tufts) scoring on an error and Ryan Marra (Brown) coming in on an RBI single by Connor Bowman (Tufts) to make it 5-1 Vermont. 

In the bottom of the sixth, the Bravehearts cut into Vermont’s lead when Matt Livingston (Siena) scored on a groundout. Mark Darakjy (Northeastern) led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run, and Matty Warren (Palm Beach Atlantic) scored to make it a one-run game on another groundout.

That would be as close as Worcester would come, however. Vermont added an insurance run in the top half of the eighth when Marra scored on a wild pitch. The Lake Monsters would maintain the 6-4 lead the rest of the way.

The win went to Vermont starter Tim Noone (Babson), who gave up one run through five innings on six hits while striking out seven. Ben Smith (Worcester State) took the loss for the Bravehearts, giving up five runs, four earned, in three innings on six hits and two walks, striking out three. Lake Monsters reliever George Goldstein (Middlebury) tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning to record the save, striking out two. 

The Bravehearts continue their six-game homestand tomorrow evening against the Norwich Sea Unicorns. First pitch is set for 6:30.