Late inning heroics from Horwitz lift Bourne to fourth straight win

By: Zach Pekale

On several occasions this season, the key to the Bourne Braves’ success has been a fast start complemented by dominant pitching out of the bullpen.

When that strategy faltered, it was the resiliency of Spencer Horwitz (Radford) that enabled Bourne to prevail.

After a 3-for-22 start to the year, Horwitz responded with five hits over the past two contests.

Among them, a tie-breaking single into right field that scored Spencer Brickhouse (East Carolina)  and helped the Braves edge the Wareham Gatemen 4-3.

“It’s definitely relieving to know that what I’m putting in off the field is finally showing up on the field,” Horwitz said. “You always dream of those moments, bottom of the eighth, bottom of the ninth, tying run, winning run on second. Finally got to come through for the team.”

In addition to Horwitz, several members of the Braves have swung the bat well as of late.

Chase Murray (Georgia Tech) recorded his fourth multi-hit game of the season and connected with a high fastball for a leadoff home run, his second of the year while third baseman Jared Triolo (Houston) turned in a 2-for-3 performance with two runs batted in.

A Quality Effort

After allowing the first three runners of the game to reach safely, starter Justin Lasko (Massachusetts Amherst) recovered to throw the Braves’ first quality start of the year.

Although he was not factored into the decision, the rising senior only conceded one additional baserunner for the remainder of his outing.

Lasko threw six innings on just 78 pitches and allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk against four strikeouts.

“I was able to get ahead of my offspeed pitches after the first inning. The first inning I struggled getting ahead of guys and once you’re behind them in this league, they’re pretty good hitters,” Lasko said. “Later in the game I was able to get ahead with everything. Fastball, curveball, changeup, it didn’t matter and that puts me in the driver’s seat to throw whatever I want.”

Saving the Day

For the fourth time in as many days, the back end of the Braves bullpen played an integral role in the outcome of the game.

Following converted save opportunities from Kyle Martin (Fordham) and Jacob Wallace (Connecticut), reliever Trey Benton (East Carolina) pitched a scoreless ninth against Wareham to secure the win.

Player of the Game

Despite the strong outing from Lasko, Horwitz delivered with a big-time hit in a big-time moment.

Thursday was only the second time this season that the Braves have been tied with an opponent in the eighth inning or later. The first came at Yarmouth-Dennis where the Red Sox walked off against Bourne on Opening Day.

At Doran Park, it was Horwitz who came through for the Braves, extending the team’s win streak to four games.

Coming Up: Bourne hits the road for a Friday night showdown at Veterans Field against the Chatham Anglers.