Bravehearts

Bravehearts Sweep Suns in Evening Doubleheader

Worcester wins 9-3, 7-3 in two seven-inning games

Worcester, MA – The Worcester Bravehearts swept the Pittsfield Suns in a Thursday-evening doubleheader at Fitton Field. This made Worcester’s overall record 16-8, while the Suns’ record falls to 11-15.

Game One (Worcester 9-3)

After Pittsfield took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the ‘Hearts got on the board in the bottom of the third. Daniel Bucciero (Fordham) hit a two-run single to score both Antonio Morales (Wake Forest) and Tyler Bastunas (Drury).

A five-run fourth inning broke the game open for Worcester. Morales singled home Jack Thorbahn (Northeastern), after which a Bastunas sacrifice fly drove in Christian Limón (Amherst College). After Stan Zagrodnik (Wofford) crossed the plate on a wild pitch, Matty Warren (Palm Beach Atlantic) capped off the frame with a two-run home run that also brought in Morales, giving the Bravehearts a 7-1 lead.

Pittsfield scored twice in the top of the fifth, but Worcester answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, with both Thorbahn and Limón scoring on wild pitches.

Bravehearts starter Randy Guzman (Central Conn. State) picked up the win, allowing three earned runs in four-plus innings on just one hit, walking five and striking out one. Mikey Jenson (UMass Amherst) took the loss for Pittsfield, allowing seven runs (all earned) on five hits in four innings, striking out three and walking two.

Game Two (Worcester 7-3)

In the second game of the day, Pittsfield again struck first, scoring two runs in the first inning on a single by Connor Grotyohann (Rhode Island). An additional single brought one more run home in the third.

The ‘Hearts got on the board in the bottom of the third, when Kobe Stenson (Siena) singled off Suns’ starter Andres Hulfachor (Clark), which brought in two runs. Stenson subsequently scored on a wild pitch, tying the game.

Worcester broke the tie in the fourth when Michael Florides (Hofstra) singled and brought Andrew Chronister (Shippensburg) home. A second single by Stenson brought in an additional two runs, and a final run was scored on a wild pitch, also by Stenson. This gave the ‘Hearts a 7-3 lead that proved unchallenged.

The win went to the Bravehearts’ Robbie O’Connor (Wake Forest), who allowed two hits and zero runs in two innings. The losing pitcher was Hulfachor, who let up seven hits and seven runs in four innings.  

Worcester returns to the road tomorrow evening against the New Britain Bees. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.