Worcester Rallies For 8-6 Win Over VT Wednesday

WORCESTER, MA --- Dakota Harris’ leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh inning snapped a 6-6 tie as the Worcester Bravehearts opened a two-game Futures League series against the Vermont Lake Monsters with an 8-6 victory Wednesday night at Fitton Field.

The Lake Monsters had taken an early 4-0 lead with the benefit of just one hit. Andrew Bergeron (Georgetown) walked, stole second and scored on pair of wild pitches in the first inning, then in the second smacked a three-run triple to rightcenter after two walks and an error had loaded the bases.

Vermont starter Brett Hansen (Vanderbilt) retired nine of the first 11 Braveheart batters faced over the first three innings, but struggled with control in the fourth by walking three of the first four hitters before getting knocked out of game after a Christian Siciliano three-run double.

Worcester tied the game against reliever Leif Bigelow (UMaine) on a Jonathan Santucci pop up RBI double to shallow left and then took lead on a Nick Martin two-run homer to left for a 6-4 Braveheart advantage. Vermont tied game game in the fifth on a M.J. Metz (Trinity University) two-run homer to rightcenter.

The Harris homer came off Chris Clark (Harvard), who allowed another run in the seventh on a Rico Riley two-out RBI double. Clark (3-1) had six strikeouts over three innings in the loss, while Vermont pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts for the game. Tyler Mudd allowed just one hit with three walks and six strikeouts over the final four scoreless innings to earn win for Worcester (8-9).

The Lake Monsters will wrap up the two-game series at Worcester 6:30pm Thursday before heading back to Nashua for the finale of the five-game roadtrip. Vermont returns to Centennial Field for a two-game homestand vs. Westfield Saturday and Sunday.