Blues Top Waves 12-5 at Muzzy

The Blues earned their third straight win in their fifth matchup against the Ocean State Waves. The Blues are now 3-2 against the Waves. 

Runs came quickly for the Blues at the bottom of the first inning. Nick Flores (VCU) got things started for the Blues, scoring the first run of the night after Chris DiPrima (Yale) singled to left field. Following Flores' run, Thomas Zwirecki (Rutgers) singled up the middle, advancing to second base and moving Nick Francuzenko (Towson) to third base, scoring both DiPrima and Antonio Ducatelli (Fairfield) and putting the Blues up 3-0. 

At the end of the first inning, Bristol was up 3-0, but the Blues were not done yet. Evan Menzel (UCONN) singled to right field, scoring Zwirecki and putting the Blues up 4-0. 

The Waves responded to the Blues' four runs with a pair of runs. William Mahala singled to first base, scoring Jackson Bradfield and Jack LaRose. 

Flores was on fire again for the Blues in the second inning. DiPrima doubled to right-center field, scoring Flores and making it a three-run game. After a runless third inning, the Blues changed the pace and had a three-run fourth inning. 

Flores scored his third run of the night after Francuzenko walked, advancing DiPrima and Ducatelli. Zwirecki walked after being hit by a pitch, advancing Francuzenko and DiPrima to second and third and sending Ducatelli home. Followed by a wild pitch that advanced both Francuzenko and Zwirecki and scored DiPrima, putting Bristol up 8-3. 

Bristol came into the fifth inning hot when DiPrima singled through center field, advancing Ducatelli to second and scoring Sean Britt and Flores, giving the Blues a seven-run lead. A wild pitch then advanced DiPrima to second and Ducatelli to third, putting the Blues in scoring position again. Zwirecki was at bat again and doubled to left-center field, scoring DiPrima and Ducatelli, making the score 12-3. 

The Blues defense was not slowing down today. Hudson Cavallo (West Virginia) allowed only five hits and three runs and recorded two strikeouts. Frank Spirito went onto the mound after Cavallo and also recorded two strikeouts and did not allow any runs or hits. JD Costanzo (West Virginia) and Joe Dooley (University of Hartford) also did not allow any runs or hits. Costanzo, Dooley and Sam Michel (Northwestern) all recorded one strikeout each against the Waves. Michel ended the night on the mound for Bristol and, in addition to striking out, allowed only two runs and two hits. 

Cavallos' first strikeout came at the top of the third, followed by an out at first base by Zwirecki to close out the inning. Spirito was on fire on the mound at the top of the sixth, starting with a strikeout and ending with one. Followed by strikeouts in each inning pitched by Costanzo, Dooley and Michel. 

The Blues are on the road to face the Valley Blue Sox on July 10 at 6:30pm. The Blues return to Bristol on July 11 at 6:30 p.m. to play the Mystic Schooners. 

Written by Gabby Algiere