Following a loss to Mystic on Tuesday, the Blues bounced back on Thursday night with a 5-0 win over the North Shore Navigators at Muzzy Field. 

Michael Belcher (Bryant) got the start for Bristol, tossing five shutout innings with five strikeouts. The right-hander lowered his earned run average to 2.7 on the season, earning the win. Once Belcher was taken out of the game, Bristol’s bullpen would limit North Shore to one hit in the final four innings. James Gilleran (Stonehill), Aiden Cook (Xavier), and Devin Wolff (UConn) each recorded at least one strikeout in their relief outings. 

The Blues wasted no time in the first inning getting the scoring started. Following a stolen base by Yeuty Ramirez (American International), Joe Tiroly (Rider) smoked an RBI double to left field, scoring Ramirez to give Bristol a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Jack Hopko (Rhode Island) and Thomas Ahlers (Keene State) would utilize a double steal to score another run. Hopko would come home to make it 2-0. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Luke Nomura (Fairfield) delivered a two-run single to left field. Gianno Merlonghi (Central Connecticut) and Easton Richter (Minnesota) would score to give the Blues a 4-0 advantage. Nomura led the team in RBIs on the night. 

Hopko delivered the first home run at Muzzy Field this season, clubbing a solo shot to right center field in the bottom of the seventh to make it 5-0. For Hopko, it would end up being his first home run of the 2025 season. 

Bristol improved to 5-2 with the win, sitting on top of the South Division with a half-game lead over the Danbury Westerners (4-2). The Blues will be back in action on Friday night at Muzzy Field, where they will host the Vermont Mountaineers (2-4). The first pitch is expected at 6:30 on NECBL+.

Written by Gavin Murray 

Photo courtesy of the Bristol Blues Instagram Page (bristol_blues)