FCBL Worcester Bravehearts

Bravehearts Comeback to Beat Nashua (Again)

Published on June 17, 2014 under Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL)
Worcester Bravehearts News Release


Worcester Bravehearts catcher T.J. Riccio wasn't even supposed to be in the lineup for his team's game against the Nashua Silver Knights on June 17 at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field.

But after catcher Connor David was scratched with an illness, Riccio stepped in and perhaps recorded the biggest hit of the season for the Bravehearts giving them a 6 - 5 comeback victory.

Worcester trailed the visiting Silver Knights 5 - 4 the bottom of the eighth, and loaded the bases with two outs and Riccio at the plate. After falling behind in the count, Riccio hit a 1 - 2 fastball up the middle for a 2RBI single scoring infielders Dylan Harris and Andy Lack and giving the team the tying and winning runs.

The Bravehearts took an early lead with three first-inning runs against Nashua starter Shawn Heide. Heide threw 5.2 innings but shut out the Bravehearts after the first inning in a no decision. In the first inning, left fielder Brendan O'Reilly hit a 2RBI triple, and Douglas, Mass., right fielder Nate Pajka followed with an RBI triple of his own.

The teams traded a run each to make it 4 - 2 at the start of the seventh inning, but Nashua put up four runs in the seventh to take the lead. Silver Knights outfielders Matt Sanchez and Griffin Garabedian led off the seventh with back-to-back doubles. The Bravehearts then brought in Miles Sheehan to relieve David Montiverdi, but Sheehan hit the next two batters to load the bases with no outs.

Sheehan struck out pinch hitter Matt Mottola to record the first out, but in the next at bat, Nashua first baseman Joe Napolitano hit a bouncing ground ball right the bounced through the glove of Harris and tied the game 4 - 4. With runners on the corners, Sheehan's pickoff throw to first went wild and allowed the Silver Knights to take the lead.

However, Nashua could not hold, as Silver Knights reliever and incoming Boston College freshman Carmen Giampetruzzi loaded the bases with two outs. Nashua called on its closer Travis Landry to attempt a four-out save, but Riccio's hit gave the Bravehearts the lead and gave Landry the loss.

Worcester reliever and Holy Cross junior Sean Gustin got the win in two innings of relief. Gustin struck out three Silver Knights and allowed only one hit and one walk.

The Bravehearts return to action to face the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs at 7:05 p.m. June 18 at Hanover Insurance Park.

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Futures Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 17, 2014


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