A strong start from University of Massachusetts-Lowell sophomore Tyler Dunlea and a strong finish in general helped propel the Westfield Starfires to a 6-3 win over the Worcester Bravehearts at Fitton Field on Monday, July 13.
Westfield is now 14-23 on the season.
After a hitless first inning, Louisiana Tech sophomore Easton Sanders got the first hit of the game with a single to lead off the top of the second, but was picked off.
In the top of the third with one out, Notre Dame freshman Ryan Ventrelle singled to right field, before Bucknell junior John Calabrese walked and UMass Amherst junior Vance Bonior reached first on an error to load the bases for Westfield. With the bases loaded with one out, Orange Coast College junior Alan Choo popped out to the Bravehearts shortstop, sending Sanders up with a chance to score the first runs of the game. Sanders worked to a 3-2 count, and fouled off two more pitches, before popping out to the second baseman to end the threat.
In the bottom of the third, Worcester got their first hit of the game with a two-out single from Chris Mondesir.
In the top of the fourth, Iona junior Cole Silvia hit a double with two outs, but a groundout ended the frame. In the bottom of the fourth with one out, Hunter St.Denis hit a double to left field for the Bravehearts. Will Kraemer followed St.Denis with a double of his own to right field, scoring St. Denis to give Worcester a 1-0 lead. Dunlea walked Bravehearts catcher Benny Hess on four pitches, before James Anastasopoulos hit an infield single. With one out and bases loaded, Dunlea got a quick strikeout before getting Worcester’s Jack Murray to fly out and end the inning.
Westfield was quick to respond in the top of the fifth inning. Ventrelle led off with single, before Calabrese hit a single of his own to put runners on first and second. Bonior launched a double to center field, scoring Ventrelle; Calabrese was thrown out trying to score from first. With the game tied, Bonior stole third to put further pressure on Worcester. Choo struck out on a dropped third strike; Hess made an error throwing the ball down, putting Choo on first. Choo stole second to put runners on second and third. Sanders hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Bonior from third and giving Westfield a 2-1 lead. Rutgers freshman Logan Martel hit a double to center field to score Choo from second and extend the lead to 3-1. A strikeout stranded Martel on second.
Dunlea struck out the first two Worcester batters before getting a groundout to end the fifth inning.
The Starfires kept their momentum in the top of the sixth, as Silvia hit a lead-off single to begin the inning. Brown freshman Morrie Fried hit a single to put runners on first and second. Ventrelle hit a single to left field, scoring Silvia before Fried was thrown out trying to reach third, giving Westfield a 4-1 lead.
Dunlea let up a lead-off single to St. Denis to begin the bottom of the sixth, but a double play and a groundout ended the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Worcester reliever Kyle McLaughlin hit Bonior with a pitch to put a runner on first. Choo hit a single to put runners on first and second, before McLaughlin threw a wild pitch, advancing the two Starfires to second and third with no outs. McLaughlin got Sanders to fly out, and Martel to strike out. UMass Amherst junior Tommy Hennessey was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Silvia flew out to end the chaotic inning for McLaughlin.
In the bottom of the seventh, Dunlea got Anastasopoulos to fly out to begin the inning. Dunlea got a strikeout before Jack Murray singled for Worcester. Dunlea walked Mondesir to put runners on first and second with two outs. Central Connecticut sophomore CJ DiBenedetto relieved Dunlea, and threw a wild pitch to advance the runners, before walking the next Braveheart to load the bases. DiBenedetto balked, forcing home a run to cut the lead to 4-2, before ending the inning with a flyout.
With two outs in the top of the eighth, Calabrese singled, before stealing second and third in an effort to get some insurance runs for the Starfires. However, Bonior grounded out to strand Calabrese at third.
In the bottom of the eighth, DiBenedetto hit St. Denis with a pitch to begin the inning; Worcester pinch-ran Brayden Cali for St. Denis. Cali stole second, a throwing error by Martel behind the plate let Cali advance to third. Kraemer hit an infield single to bring home Cali and bring the score to 4-3. DiBenedetto hit Hess with a pitch to put runners on first and second, before being relieved by St. Joseph’s junior Jack Dyer. With runners on first and second with no outs, Worcester called the double steal; Hess was thrown out by Martel at second as Kraemer reached third safely. Two shallow flyouts ended the game-tying threat for Worcester.
With one out in the top of the ninth, Sanders and Martel both drew walks to put runners on first and second. Worcester reliever Colton Cravens came into the game and struck out Hennessey for the second out. Silvia stepped up to the plate, and Cravens threw a wild pitch to worsen Worcester’s situation as both runners advanced. Silvia walked to load the bases with two outs. In a 1-2 count, Fried hit a shallow fly ball to right field, which got down for a single, scoring two desperately needed insurance runs to give the Starfires some breathing room and a 6-3 lead. Ventrelle struck out to bring up the Bravehearts’ batters. However, any chance of a comeback was stifled by Dyer, who struck out the side in order to end the game and give Westfield the win.
The Starfires ended the day with an impressive 13 hits from eight different batters, and all nine starters reached safely at least once. Fried went two-for-five with two RBI, Ventrelle went three-for-five with a RBI, and Calabrese and Silvia both went two-for-four. Bonior, Martel, and Sanders also all collected an RBI.
Dunlea earned his first win of the year, ending the day with 6.2 innings pitched, six hits, two runs allowed, five strikeouts and two walks. Dyer earned the save, pitching two innings, allowing no hits or walks while striking out three.
Westfield next heads to Lowell, Massachusetts to face the Spinners at LeLacheur Park. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
