Box Score

WESTFIELD, Massachusetts (May 31, 2024) – For six and a half innings, the Westfield Starfires looked as if they were destined to come up empty once again at the Richards Jewelers Diamond at Billy Bullens Field.

Then, Bullens Magic happened.

The Starfires scored six times in the bottom of the seventh to erase a four-run deficit and defeat the Futures League Road Warriors 6-4 on Friday, May 31.

The Starfires are now 2-1 on the season.

Neither team managed much offense in the early going. Tommy Goonan smacked an RBI single through the left side to bring in Andrew Possi, who had walked to lead off the frame, but that was all the scoring through the first two-thirds of the contest.

The pitching was stellar; Long Island University’s Mason Breton needed the bare minimum of three pitches to get through the third inning and ultimately allowed just the one run on five hits through six frames for Westfield. On the other side, Jacob Jette of UMass Lowell allowed just two hits in five frames.

In the seventh, the Road Warriors finally appeared to take complete control. Two walks, a single, and a double accounted for three runs, with UMass Dartmouth’s Joe Muzio striking the two-run two-base hit that put the guests ahead 4-0.

Down big, the Starfires needed a spark, and found an inferno. Fairfield’s Matt Lussier led off with a walk, followed by a single by Franklin Pierce University’s Colin Hoffman. American International College’s Josh Frometa then singled to load the bases, and Holy Cross’s Van Liott flew to center, scoring Lussier for his first FCBL RBI.

Brandon Gaer of UMass Boston flared a hit to left to reload the bases, and Hoffman scored on a passed ball during the plate appearance of Ben Williams. The Boston College rookie walked to load the bags again, this time for AIC’s Jackson Haker.

The third-year Starfire did not miss. He drilled the first pitch he saw into left field, breaking his bat but tying the game with the single. Gianno Merlonghi then followed with a single to right, scoring Williams; Haker also ultimately scored thanks to a bad throw that tried to get him out at third, though the Central Connecticut hitter himself was thrown out trying to advance to third.

With the lead in their hands, the Starfires bullpen slammed the door. Westfield State’s Joe Fischer struck out two in a 1-2-3 eighth, and in the ninth, Jafar Vohra from the University of New Haven worked around a walk, striking out the final two Road Warriors to earn the save.

The Starfires continue their five-game homestand on Saturday, June 1 with a 6:30 p.m. start against the Nashua Silver Knights. Gates open at 5:00 p.m., with The Dad Bods providing free pregame entertainment. The Road Warriors then return on Sunday, June 2 with a 1:00 p.m. start; following that contest, kids can join the Starfires on the field for a free baseball clinic.

Tickets for both games, and all home games, are available at westfieldstarfires.com.