Walking into Dodd Stadium Tuesday night, you where swarmed with an uneasy and nervous feeling that surrounded the haloed grounds. Game one of the playoffs was underway.
Matt Wootton was granted the nod as the starter for the Sea Unicorns after a dominant regular season. Despite only going four innings, he only surrendered one run and struck out six bees.
Wootton’s 1-2-3 start t0 the game set up the offense for a strong backup. Zach Donahue turned on a second pitch fastball, placing itself within one bounce to the left-centerfield wall. Number three batter Brennan Hyde would later drive him in with an RBI single.
Inning’s two through six would be a pitchers duel between both clubs best arms. This was until the sixth inning when New Britain would load the bases with zero outs, spelling the end for Wootton’s outing.
Wootton was then relieved by Yale pitcher Mark Capell, the Futures League pitcher of the night. Capell went three innings of one-hit ball for the win giving up one run, not earned which was a sac-fly.
Going into the seventh inning, the Bees had a slim one run lead. Heading to the bottom half, the game seemed as if it would remain a pitchers duel.
With two outs and one runner on, a 3-2 count was starring in the yes of Johnny Knox. In a flash, Knox crushed a two-run homer into the Rose City night cementing the win for Norwich.
Rising UCONN freshman Sean finn came into shut the door. Your final score, Norwich three New Britain two and a lead in the series.
The Sea Unicorns now head to New Britain as they look to clinch a championship appearance. First pitch at the hive slated for 6:35.