Box Score

NASHUA, New Hampshire (July 4, 2024) – The Westfield Starfires dominated both sides of the ball in an Independence Day shutout of the Nashua Silver Knights, winning 6-0 at Holman Stadium.

Westfield is now 19-11-1 on the season, still atop the Futures Collegiate Baseball League standings and gaining ground on the idle Norwich Sea Unicorns.

Hofstra University’s Luke Masiuk sinlged with one out in the first and took second on a bobble in left field, moving to third on a single to center field by Central Connecticut State University’s Gianno Merlonghi. The duo then worked a double steal perfectly, with Masiuk coming home for the game’s first run.

In the fourth, the lead doubled as College of Charleston rookie Jayden Novak launched a 2-1 pitch over the left-field fence for a leadoff home run.

The fifth inning saw Boston College’s Julio Solier take advantage of errant throwing. After the Springfield native singled on the first pitch of the inning, he took off for second during Masiuk’s at-bat. Not only did he reach easily, but the throw from the catcher sailed into center field. Solier sprinted to third, and the throw there was also wild, flying into the dugout and allowing the Eagle-to-be to walk home for his team’s third run.

The cherry on top for the offense came in the eighth frame. With two men on, Central Connecticut State’s Jackson Haker took hold of the first pitch he saw and blasted it over the left-center fence, doubling the Westfield lead and closing the scoring.

Behind the offensive output, the Starfires pitching was exquisite. Cody Carwile made his first Starfires start and the Georgia Tech star made the most of his opportunity, holding Nashua to two hits in five frames. Behind him, Nichols College senior Clark Churchill earned the save, hurling three no-hit innings; the duo combined for six strikeouts and allowed just seven total baserunners to reach safely.

“Fastball and changeup were working a lot,” Carwile said of his showing, adding of his pitching mate, “I thought he was throwing better than me, to be honest. It looked like all of his stuff was working.”

The Starfires will next face off against Norwich on Friday, July 5 at Dodd Stadium. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.