Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WESTFIELD, Massachusetts (July 19, 2022) – The Westfield Starfires and Nashua Silver Knights played a Futures Collegiate Baseball League doubleheader at Bullens Field on Tuesday evening. The Starfires took the first game by a final score of 3-0 and dropped the second game 12-2.

After today’s split, the Starfires move to 22-24 on the season, sitting in the last playoff spot.

In the first game, the Starfires took the lead in the third inning, taking advantage of two errors. Ryan Lavelle led off the inning with a single before advancing to second on an error by Silver Knights right fielder Shane McNamara. Lavelle then reached third on a Jack Wentworth ground out, coming home one batter later on a Noah Campanelli single. Luca Giallongo followed with a single and advanced to second on an error by Silver Knights third baseman Andrew Jemison to send Campanelli to third. Hornung then hit a bloop single that dropped in the infield to drive in Campanelli, putting the Starfires up 2-0.

The Starfires would continue their offense in the fifth inning when Giallongo drew a walk, advanced to third on a Hornung single, and came home to score on a Brendan Jones single, extending the Starfires lead to three runs.

The real story, however, was Shayne Audet. The second-year Starfire, who for a time served as the team’s closer, came back on the bump and nearly no-hit the Silver Knights. The only hit he conceded was in the seventh inning, as he went the distance in a complete game shutout, fanning six to earn the win.

“I was just trying to throw strikes and mix in pitches [and] I had my changeup today so that helped,” Audet said following the victory. When asked about his time in the bullpen as the closer, Audet said, “I wanted to go out there and prove that I can do both. It felt good to do that.”

In the nightcap, Hornung got the Starfires out to an early lead with his league leading ninth home run of the season to left field. The Starfires were not able to hold on, falling 12-2 in the second game of the double header.

The Starfires are back in action tomorrow morning at Bullens Field against the Norwich Sea Unicorns, a must win for the Starfires as they continue their playoff push. First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

For the latest on the team, be sure to follow the Starfires on Twitter and Instagram @starfiresbb, and visit us on the web at westfieldstarfires.com.