And here is another post game interview with Jonathan Luders (@SHUBaseball)! pic.twitter.com/nr5RxOAbi2

— North Shore Navigators (@NSNavigators) July 8, 2020

By Joshua Kummins

LYNN, Mass. -- The North Shore Navigators continued their outstanding start to the young Futures Collegiate Baseball League season, recording 10 hits on the way to an 8-3 win over the defending champion Worcester Bravehearts in Tuesday night’s home opener at Fraser Field.

The Navs improved their record to 3-0 for the second straight year for the first time in franchise history. The visiting Bravehearts slipped to 1-2.

Right fielder Ben Malgeri (Northeastern) highlighted the North Shore offense with a three-run triple as part of the team’s six-run fourth inning. Lynnfield native second baseman Jonathan Luders (Seton Hall) went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI, while center fielder Sal Frelick (Boston College) and Lynn native catcher Ryan Turenne (Maine) also recorded multiple hits.

Following their first win of the season on Sunday, the Bravehearts came into Fraser and scored two quick runs in the first inning. Third baseman Aidan Wilde (Stonehill) hit a one-out single to bring home the game’s first marker before first baseman Paul Coumoulos (Saint Leo) doubled the Worcester lead with a sacrifice fly to left field.

North Shore cut its deficit to 2-1 in the second as designated hitter Peter Burns (Boston College) and Turenne traded places with doubles in a span of three batters. Turenne’s two-out hit to right scored the home team’s first run.

The Navs tied the game with another single run an inning later when Luders and Frelick opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Shortstop Cody Morissette (Boston College) recorded the tying knock to right two batters later.

After Worcester starter Eric Chavarria (Lewis & Clark State) allowed runs in each of his last two frames, the Navs broke the game open with a six-run third. After Sebastian Gruszecki (Franklin Pierce) struck out the first batter he faced out of the Bravehearts’ bullpen, North Shore had six straight batters reach base and score to break the game wide open.

Navs third baseman Jake McElroy (Holy Cross) led off the offensive surge with his first of back-to-back walks before five straight batters hit safely. Malgeri provided the biggest blow of the inning with a three-run triple over counterpart Trevor Johnson’s (Dartmouth) head and onto the warning track.

The Bravehearts got one run back in the fifth after center fielder Danny Torres (Saint Leo) reached on a one-out infield single, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on catcher Ben Rice’s (Dartmouth) single. Worcester had runners on base in seven of its nine innings, but it stranded 12 with no runs scored after the fifth.

Saugus native Todd Tringale (Northern Essex CC) was the first of seven North Shore pitchers to appear in the game, fanning three over the first two frames. Griffin Green (Virginia Tech) earned the win after throwing the next two innings of three-hit, scoreless ball.

Ricky Alexy (Southern New Hampshire) and Swampscott native Nick Reiser (Franklin Pierce) struck out two batters apiece to finish the game for the Navs.

Wilde went 3-for-5 with one RBI to lead Worcester’s 12-hit offense while Torres was 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

The Navs return to Fraser for the second straight night on Wednesday as they are set to host the Brockton Rox at 6 p.m.