Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

WORCESTER, Massachusetts (July 13, 2024) – The Westfield Starfires salvaged a split of a doubleheader against the Worcester Bravehearts, dropping a resumed game 8-2 before winning a seven-inning scheduled game 7-3 at Fitton Field on Saturday, July 13.

Westfield, at 24-15-1, still leads the Futures Collegiate Baseball League by three points over the New Britain Bees.

The first game resumed with the bases loaded and no outs, with the Bravehearts leading 1-0 in the bottom of the third; Post University pitcher Jack Martineau induced a double play, conceding a run but limiting the damage to that as he drew a flyout to leave a runner at third.

However, the Bravehearts took advantage of a miscue early in the fourth to grab three unearned runs, and a fifth-inning Kevin Matos home run added to the advantage. By the time Westfield scored in the eighth, with Central Connecticut State University’s Gianno Merlonghi coming home on a groundout, the Bravehearts had all but put the game away. The hosts added a run of their own in the eighth, and Central Connecticut State’s Aidan Redahan hitting a one-out RBI single only closed out the 8-2 final.

Four hits in the first inning of game two brought home three runs for Worcester, and it looked as if Westfield would suffer a sweep. The Starfires had other ideas.

Quinnipiac University’s Kyle Garbowski started the third with a leadoff walk, and while Worcester collected two quick outs, both Redahan and Merlonghi reached on errors, scoring Garbowski and prolonging the inning. Hofstra University’s Luke Masiuk then smashed a two-run triple to center before trotting home himself when Bryant University rookie Cameron Papetti followed with a double to left, giving Westfield a lead.

Errors continued to haunt the home team in the fourth. Sam Morris of Millersville University drew a walk to lead off, and Garbowski singled. Van Liott, playing on his future home field at the College of the Holy Cross, bounced to the mound, but the throw to first was wild, putting the speedy infielder at second and scoring both Morris and Garbowski. Two batters later, Redahan singled to score Liott, putting the Starfires up 7-3.

The pitching did the job from there. Daniel Cantafi, the Keene State University junior, only allowed three hits and no runs after the first frame, ultimately going 6.0 innings before giving way to his college teammate Camden Thomas, who threw a perfect seventh to end the contest in Westfield’s favor.

The Starfires close out the four-game road weekend with a battle at Dodd Stadium against the Norwich Sea Unicorns on Sunday, July 14 at 4:00 p.m. That opens a three-game series with the defending FCBL Champions, who will play two in the team’s first visit to Bullens Field on Tuesday, July 16, with first pitch of game one slated for 5:00 p.m.