Box Score

WESTFIELD, Massachusetts (May 27, 2023) – The Westfield Starfires thrilled a crowd of 1044 with a 10-inning 6-5 walk-off win over the Brockton Rox in Futures Collegiate Baseball League action on Saturday, May 27.

The Starfires now sit at 2-2 on the season.

Westfield scored the first four runs of the game. Brendan Edvardsen hit a sacrifice fly in the first frame, scoring Jay Bant, but the real damage came in the third. Six walks – one each by Jackson Haker, Bant, Dan Burnett, Edvardsen, Josh Frometa and Jack Kent – pushed three runs across despite the team not recording a hit in the inning.

Brockton gained two back in the fifth on a single, stolen base, error, and double steal, but miscues by the Rox led to a Westfield run in the sixth as Kiernan Caffrey worked a walk, took multiple bases on errors, and then scored on a wild pitch.

The lead lasted through to the eighth, when the Rox rallied. A bunt single by Sean Ambrose turned into a run on a Matthew Alexander double with two outs, and after Ryan Grundy was hit by a pitch, Michael Balboni doubled, plating Alexander. Sam Parks then hit a grounder to second, and Grundy scored, though Balboni was put out in a rundown trying to score the go-ahead run.

Both teams came up empty in the ninth, and the Starfires saw two perfect frames from Joe Espinola, who struck out three across his six batters faced. That set up the bottom of the 10th, and Kobe Mentzer popped up to shortstop to lead off the inning. The catch was muffed, however, allowing him to reach.

Nick Serce then drilled a single to right, and Mentzer pushed to third, forcing a throw from the right fielder. Once again, the ball was mishandled, skipping past the third baseman, and Mentzer sprinted home, ending the game in victory for the home team.

The two teams will face off again on Sunday, May 28 in Brockton at Campanelli Stadium. First pitch is slated for 1:30 p.m.