Pavia, McMahon dominate, Bravehearts top Lake Monsters

  • Worcester’s righty tandem combines to allow 3 hits


    Worcester Bravehearts (Facebook)

    WORCESTER — Bolton’s Nik Pavia (Franklin Pierce) fired 5 scoreless innings and Noah McMahon (Wofford) allowed a single hit in 4 innings of relief as the Worcester Bravehearts beat the Vermont Lake Monsters, 3-1, at Fitton Field Sunday.

    Pavia got off to a fast start on the mound, striking out 3 and surrendering just a single hit in the first 3 innings. The Bravehearts offense provided him with some run support when Michael Brown (Hofstra) cracked a 1-out single in the bottom of the third, then CJ Egrie (Holy Cross) ripped a 2-run homer over the left field fence.

    After Pavia capped his fourth scoreless inning with a strikeout, Worcester extended the lead in the fourth when back-to-back hits from Kevin Matos (Wheaton) and Worcester native Max LeFrancois (Assumption) chased Vermont starter Hayden Mutz. Brown greeted reliever Brandon Morio by bunting home a run to make it 3-0 ’Hearts.

    Pavia, the NE-10 Rookie Pitcher of the Year this past spring, left the game after another strikeout in the fifth inning. The right-hander surrendered 2 hits and walked 1, striking out 5 across his 5 scoreless innings. Wofford’s Noah McMahon relieved Pavia, punching out 2 Vermont hitters in a scoreless sixth.

    Vermont got its only run of the game off McMahon in the seventh inning when Colby Brouillette drilled a leadoff double and scored on Brown’s 2-out error.

    McMahon finished the game, stranding 3 walks to nail down the save and the 3-1 final. The right-hander, a Georgia native, allowed an unearned run on 1 hit, striking out 4 and walking 3 in 4 innings.

    Worcester (10-9) takes a day off Monday before hitting the road to visit Nashua (7-11) Tuesday. First pitch at Holman Stadium is set for 6 p.m.

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