Box Score

NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE (May 30, 2023) – The Westfield Starfires used a seven-run second and nine-run third to key a franchise-record day as they defeated the defending Futures Collegiate Baseball League champion Nashua Silver Knights 20-1 on Tuesday, May 30.

Westfield is 5-2 on the season with the win.

After a scoreless first, the Starfires batted around and then some in the second. Jackson Haker led off the inning with a hit, and the team gathered a total of 10 runners, on three hits, four walks, and three miscues.

In the third, the team went even further. Aaron Cole, Josh Frometa, and Kiernan Caffrey all walked to load the bags, and Corey Zientek walked as well to push in a run. Frankie Ferrentino followed with a hit to drive in two, Haker and Luke Stephens walked to reload the bases, and Kameron Hartenstein was hit by a pitch for an RBI. After an error, Cole and Frometa both smacked hits in their second plate appearance of the inning, putting the Starfires up 16-0.

The Silver Knights broke the shutout in the fourth with an unearned run, but the rest of the game belonged to Westfield. After pushing one across in the sixth, the team loaded the bases as Frometa and Zientek walked around Caffrey being hit with a pitch. A Ferrentino single pushed in Frometa, and Haker doubled to score Caffrey and Zientek.

With Haker driving in his American International College teammate Caffrey in the seventh, the Starfires broke the team’s record, set on July 31, 2021 in Worcester, for the most runs by the team in a game; Zientek’s run to make it 20 additionally gave Westfield a +19 differential, by far the biggest in franchise history.

On the bump, Westfield’s pitching held the Silver Knights to three hits and the unearned run; Ryan Bailey started, going 3.0 innings with one hit and five strikeouts. Jake Jachym was awarded the win, throwing 2.0 innings of relief and allowing the unearned run on two hits. Alex Perez and Ryan Kelleher-Mochak pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh, respectively.

The Starfires play back-to-back road games on May 31 and June 1 at the Pittsfield Suns. They are next at home on Tuesday, June 6 at 10:30 a.m. against the New Britain Bees.