Starfires swipe seven bases, but drop tight contest at Vermont, 3-2

BURLINGTON, VERMONT – Boston College Eagle Ben Williams was 1-for-2 with three walks and three bags swiped, but the Westfield Starfires stranded 12 men on base in their 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Vermont Lake Monsters, Friday night, at Centennial Field.

The Starfires fall to 6-14 at the 20-game marker of the season. The Lake Monsters improve to 13-8 on the season.

The Lake Monsters wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, after two singles, a wild pitch, and a run-scoring groundout gave Vermont a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

The Starfires got their first hit in the third off a leadoff single from Williams. This was followed by FIU’s Alex Ulloa getting plunked by a pitch and then Connecticut Husky Evan Menzel drawing a walk to load the bases.

North Florida’s Seth Alford then hit a moderately deep flyball into left to score the speedy Williams for his first RBI of the season as the Starfires knotted the game at 1-1.

Vermont had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the third by getting three runners on base via an error, a walk, and a single with just one out. Westfield starter Brendan Murphy, out of Columbia University, then got a critical strikeout followed by a lazy groundball to first to get out of the inning unscathed and kept the game tied after three.

The very next inning, Vermont loaded the bases again with three singles, two by way of the bunt. This time, the Lake Monsters were able to capitalize with a pinch-hit single by American International College’s Leandro Guevara through the right side of the infield, which plated two runs to give the home team the lead back.

The Starfires got one run back in the top of the sixth with Vermont’s Cole Tarrant getting a little wild on the mound. Ulloa and Menzel both drew walks on a combined nine pitches to open the inning, and then Ulloa stole third. Alford then delivered his second sacrifice fly of the night, and the Starfires were now within a run with the game at 3-2.

Westfield had opportunities to score in both the seventh and eighth innings, with the Lake Monsters continuing to struggle with command. In the seventh, Williams walked, Ulloa was drilled, and Menzel also drew four balls to juice the bases, but the Starfires left all three stranded after a flyball.

In their next at-bats, Ruggiero drew a leadoff walk. Then, the Mendon, Massachusetts native took off for second, trying to steal, and the Vermont catcher sailed the ball into center field to allow Ruggiero the next base. Despite a runner on third with nobody out, the Starfires wasted it after three of the next four batters went down on strikes and the game remained at 3-2 in favour of the Lake Monsters.

In the bottom of the ninth with the score still at 3-2, the Starfires packed the bags once again after Vermont walked the bases loaded with two down for a total of 13 walks granted on the night. However, the Lake Monsters got a strikeout as the Starfires stranded the bases loaded to end the game.

Williams and Ruggiero had the only two hits on the night for Westfield, with Ruggiero also adding three walks and two stolen bases. Ruggiero has now hit safely in six of his past eight games. With three swiped bags, Williams is now in a tie for third in the FCBL with nine on the year. Menzel also drew four free passes and has walked 18 times this season to take over the league lead.

The Starfires bullpen on the night, which consisted of William and Mary’s Connor Jernigan and Richmond’s Tripp Woytowicz, combined to go 3.2 innings, allowing no runs on two hits.

The Starfires will play game two of the series against the Lake Monsters tomorrow, June 21, starting at 6:05 p.m. After this, Westfield will host the Third Annual Starfires Summer Classic presented by Wellpoint on Sunday, June 22, against the Worcester Bravehearts at the Walker Memorial Grandstand at historic Forest Park in Springfield, Massachusetts. Tickets to all Starfires home games can be found at www.westfieldstarfires.com.