Bravehearts

The Worcester Bravehearts defeated the Westfield Starfires 7-5 Friday night at Fitton Field.

The win moves Worcester to 12-7 while Westfield drops to 12-8.

The Bravehearts broke through with three runs in the bottom half of the third. After leading off with a double, Sal Grinstead (Palm Beach State) scored on a Jake Marquez (Maine) RBI double. Marquez would later score on a single by Lewis Barnum (Bryant). An RBI double by David Pedanou (Dayton) brought Barnum home to give Worcester a 3-0 lead. 

Worcester would tack on three more runs in the fifth. A two-run double by Barnum would score both Marquez and Gavin Noriega (Marist). Barnum would then score on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Chronister (Shippensberg). Another run would come across in the bottom of the sixth when Matty Warren (Palm Beach Atlantic) scored on another RBI single by Grinstead. 

The Starfires didn’t go away quietly. After scoring a run apiece in the fifth and sixth innings, Westfield stormed back in the top of the eighth, thanks to a bases-clearing triple by Jack Wentworth (Seton Hall) that scored Jack Power (Long Island University), Patrick D’Amico (Seton Hall), and Daniel Burnett (Hartford), making the score 7-5. That would be as close as the Starfires would get, however.

‘Hearts starter Tanner Smith (Harvard) got the win, giving up two earned runs in seven innings on four hits and three walks, striking out eight. Westfield starter Alex Rosario (Middlebury) took the loss. In 4.1 innings, he gave up six earned runs on 10 hits, walking one and striking out four. Austin Stone (Assumption) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Bravehearts to earn the save, giving up no hits or walks. 

The Bravehearts are back on the road tomorrow evening against the Pittsfield Suns. First pitch at Wahconah Park is set for 6:05.