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Hurrell’s walk-off lifts Bravehearts over Sea Unicorns

  • Posted by Local sports June 28, 2024 - Filed in Sports - #Worcester Bravehearts  #Futures League  #Fitton Field  - 2,115 views

    Worcester’s 2-Run ninth inning helps snap 3-game skid

    WORCESTER — Jacob Hurrell (Fitchburg State) lined a walk-off single to right field, lifting the Worcester Bravehearts to a come-from-behind 7-6 win over the Norwich Sea Unicorns at Fitton Field Thursday.

    The hit, Hurrell’s third of the game, capped a 2-run ninth inning that halted Worcester’s 3-game losing streak.

    Dylan LaPointe (FAU) staked the ’Hearts to a 2-0 lead with a 2-run double in the bottom of the first, but the Sea Unicorns responded with a run against Bravehearts starter John Connolly (Endicott) in the second. Carter Hanson (Wofford) scored on a wild pitch to extend the Worcester lead to 3-1, but Norwich again cut its deficit to a run.

    While Connolly settled in on the mound, Hurrell demolished a fourth-inning solo home run onto the Fitton Field gridiron, and Worcester took a 4-2 lead. Connolly retired 6 of the next 8 Norwich hitters, and departed the game after 5 innings. The Attleboro native struck out 4 and walked 3, surrendering 2 runs on 5 hits.

    Once Worcester dipped into its arsenal of relief pitchers, Norwich tied the game on Nick Sturino’s 2-run single in the 6th, took a 5-4 lead on Trey Porter’s solo homer in the seventh, and extended that lead in the eighth on a Hurrell error in right field.

    In the bottom of the eighth, Worcester loaded the bases with no outs. Kevin Matos (Wheaton) singled home a run to halve the Norwich lead, but the ’Hearts stranded 3 runners and entered the ninth down a run. Aidan Greene (AIC) fired a 1-2-3 top of the ninth, setting up the Bravehearts’ offense for the rally.

    Against Norwich closer Jimmy Mulvaney, who had not allowed a run in his first 12 2/3 Futures League innings, Worcester’s Matt Milone (SUNY Maritime) blooped a leadoff single to left, then scored when LaPointe roped a game-tying triple to right-center. After Tyler McCord (Amherst) ran for LaPointe at third, Franklin’s Henry DiGiorgio (Northeastern) walked, Hanson was hit by a pitch, and Worcester loaded the bases to set up Hurrell’s heroics.

    In a 3-1 count, Hurrell, a Haverhill native, cracked the game-winning hit, his third of the night, onto the right field warning track, plating McCord and giving Worcester its first win in 4 games. Greene (2-1) earned the win on the mound.

    The Bravehearts (14-12) face the Futures League Road Warriors (3-11) on Military Appreciation Night Friday. All active and former military members will receive free admission to Fitton Field. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.

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