Box Score

WORCESTER, Massachusetts (July 19, 2023) – The Westfield Starfires won a battle of the bullpens as Futures League All-Star Kiernan Caffrey’s go-ahead ninth-inning single was the scoring difference in a 3-2 Starfires win over the Worcester Bravehearts at Fitton Field on Wednesday, July 19.

Westfield is now 23-25 on the season.

After the Starfires left second and third in the top of the third, the Bravehearts pushed the game’s first run across in the home half. A one-out Stan Zagrodnik doubled started the offense, and he came in on a Tyler Bastunas single to the left side.

In the sixth, FCBL All-Star Nick Serce led off with a single, and his fellow All-Star Jay Bant followed two batters later with another. After a groundout pushed Serce to third, Luke Stephens smacked a single to right on the first pitch he saw to tie the game.

Worcester just as quickly untied it. A.J. Guindon singled and stole second before Jack Thorbahn drove him in with a double to center in the bottom half of the sixth.

In the eighth, Westfield tied it again. Serce turned on an 0-2 pitch and hit it into right field for two bases. He was lifted for Jack Kent to run, and that decision proved fortuitous, as Kent was able to gain both third base and home plate on wild pitches to re-tie the score.

Joel Valera came on to pitch and sat down the top of Worcester’s order without a hitch, setting up ninth-inning drama. Michael Breen added to it, leading off with a single. During Ben Robichaux’s plate appearance, he took off for second, and ended up at third thanks to an errant throw.

After Robichaux was retired, Caffrey wasted no time. The American International College junior drove the first pitch he saw to left to score Breen and give Westfield its first lead of the game.

Ryan Robb came on for the save in the ninth and earned it, working around a two-out single to shut the door and finish a key victory for the Starfires.

The two relievers were credited with the decisions, but starter Mike Furgalack shined despite not adding a win to his record. The Eastern Connecticut State University junior tossed a season-best seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts, also a season high.

Westfield next faces the team directly ahead of it in the standings, New Britain, on Thursday, July 20 at 6:30 p.m. at New Britain Stadium. The team will return home Friday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m. to host the Norwich Sea Unicorns at the Richards Jewelers Diamond at Billy Bullens Field.