Pavia, McMahon Dominate, Bravehearts Top Lake Monsters

Worcester’s righty tandem combines to allow three hits

Bolton’s Nik Pavia (Franklin Pierce) fired five scoreless innings and Noah McMahon (Wofford) allowed a single hit in four 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 three and surrendering just a single hit in the first three innings. The Bravehearts offense provided him with some run support when Michael Brown (Hofstra) cracked a one-out single in the bottom of the 3rd, then CJ Egrie (Holy Cross) ripped a two-run home run over the left field fence.

After Pavia capped his fourth scoreless inning with a strikeout, Worcester extended the lead in the 4th 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 5th inning. The right-hander surrendered two hits and walked one, striking out five across his five scoreless innings. Wofford’s Noah McMahon relieved Pavia, punching out two Vermont hitters in a scoreless 6th. 

Vermont got its only run of the game off McMahon in the 7th inning, when Colby Brouillette drilled a leadoff double, then scored on Brown’s two-out error. McMahon finished the game, stranding three walks to nail down the save and the 3-1 final. The right-hander, a Georgia native, allowed one unearned run on one hit, striking out four and walking three in four 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.