Box Score

BROCKTON, Massachusetts (June 22, 2023) – The Westfield Starfires used an early offensive outburst to build a lead they were able to hang on to in a 6-4 win against the Brockton Rox in Futures Collegiate Baseball League action on Thursday, June 22.

The win improves Westfield’s record to 14-12 on the campaign.

A two-out rally started the scoring for the Starfires in the second frame as Alex Sorenti-Burns walked and Kiernan Caffrey singled. Jay Bant then laced a double to right, plating the duo.

Nick Serce and Ryan Molinari opened the third with a double and a walk, and though the Rox were able to put the next two hitters away, back-to-back walks by Michael Breen and Sorenti-Burns loaded the bases and pushed Serce in. Caffrey then drilled the first pitch he saw into left field for a two-run single, and Westfield led 5-0.

The Rox answered with two runs in the bottom of the third, scoring their second on a double steal to cut the deficit to 5-2. In the sixth, they shrank the gap further, stringing together three straight hits, capped by a Jack Obert two-run single, and Westfield’s lead diminished to a single run. However, the hosts left a potential tying run at third base in the inning as Caffrey hauled down a Gabe Pitts fly to left.

The Starfires added another tally on the board, the game’s final run, in the top of the seventh. Jackson Haker drew a two-out walk, followed by singles from Jake Risedorf and Breen. Sorenti-Burns then hit a grounder to short that was mishandled, allowing Haker to score.

Brockton put the tying run either at the plate or on base in each of the final three innings, but Troy Donahue was able to shut the door, striking out three and picking a runner off over the final 2.2 innings for the save after Ryan Donahue earned the win with 2.1 innings of relief.

Brockton and Westfield finish the two-game set at Campanelli Stadium on Friday, June 23 at 6:30 p.m. The Starfires return home on Saturday, June 24 to face the Nashua Silver Knights at 6:30 p.m.