Bravehearts

Worcester, MA – The Worcester Bravehearts split a doubleheader Saturday evening against the Westfield Starfires. This makes Worcester’s overall record for the season 31-18.

Game One (Westfield 4-2)

The Bravehearts jumped on top in the bottom of the first. An RBI single by Jack Thorbahn (Northeastern) drove in Matty Warren (Palm Beach Atlantic) to give Worcester a 1-0 lead.

Warren scored again in the second inning on a balk.

Westfield answered in the fourth. A three-run home run by Jay Bant (Monmouth) put Westfield on top as part of a four-run inning, the last time either team scored the remainder of the game.

Starfires starter Ryan Bailey (Alfred State) earned the win, giving up two earned runs in five innings on five hits and three strikeouts. Bravehearts starter Charles West (UConn) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on three hits and three walks, striking out three in four innings. Westfield reliever Brian Dowling (Harvard) threw two scoreless innings to record the save.

Game Two (Worcester 5-1)

In the second game of the day, the Starfires immediately made their place on the scoreboard. A single home run hit by Luke Yuhasz (Univ. of Louisiana) in the first inning gave Westfield a one run lead, making the score 1-0.

This lead remained unchanged until the bottom of the third. Kobe Stenson (Siena) singled, allowing Mike Maher (Wheaton) to cross the plate. This tied the game 1-1.

Worcester soon broke the tie in the fifth inning, when a bases-clearing double hit by Greg Gorman (Bryant) brought in three additional runs, giving the ‘Hearts a three-run lead at 4-1.

The 'Hearts added insurance in the fifth, when an additional run made the score 5-1, which proved unchallenged.

Bravehearts starter JT Raab (Stony Brook) took the win, who allowed three hits and one run in five innings. Evan Cornelius (Rollins) made the save, letting up neither a hit nor a run in one inning. The loss went to Westfield’s Bryce DiPiero (Central Conn.), who allowed three hits and three runs in one inning pitched.

The Worcester Bravehearts will be back at Fitton Field tomorrow on Sunday in a late-afternoon matchup against the Pittsfield Suns. Tomorrow’s game will be part of the Bravehearts’ collaboration with the Boston Children’s Hospital, where each Worcester player will wear a jersey designed by patients of the hospital. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.