Sea Unicorns Big 4th Inning Propels Norwich to Game 1 Victory in Worcester

Worcester, MA – The Norwich Sea Unicorns earned a crucial victory in Worcester Sunday evening, defeating the Bravehearts 8-4. Sunday’s triumph gives Norwich a 1-0 series lead in the semifinals and a chance to clinch the series tonight in Norwich.

Both sides threatened in the first inning but came up empty. Norwich had runners at first and third with one out, but a line drive back to the mound was snagged by Bravehearts starter Evan Scully, who quickly flipped to first for an inning-ending double play. On the other side, Casey Wensley narrowly missed a two-run homer, and Nick Pappas, who was at first, tried to score on the play but was cut down at the plate to wipe away the game’s potential first run. The scoreless tie held until the fourth inning, when Norwich broke through with five runs against Scully.

In the 4th, the Norwich offense came roaring to life, sending 10 batters to the plate and erupting for 5 runs on 6 hits. Gavin O’Brien and Antonio Ducatelli opened the rally with back-to-back singles, putting runners at first and second. Evan Scully got the next batter on a potential double play ball, but the Bravehearts shortstop bobbled the transfer, leaving Norwich with runners at the corners and one out. The Sea Unicorns made them pay, stringing together four straight hits to take a 5-0 lead. Bryce Detwiler wired a single up the middle to bring home the game’s first run, and Charlie Walsh followed with a bases-clearing double to the gap in right-center. A passed ball moved Walsh to third and he came home to score on CJ Nolan’s single through the drawn-in infield. Clay Hartje capped the rally with an opposite-field RBI single, ending the night for Scully.

Norwich tacked on a run in the 5th against Bravehearts reliever Caleb Allen, stretching the lead to 6-0. Antonio Ducatelli jumpstarted the inning with a leadoff triple to the wall in right and came home on Chace Chaplin’s sacrifice fly to left.

Worcester scratched across their first run of the night in the 6th on a Jackson Marshall 2 out single through the left side, scoring Kaleb Woodward who singled earlier in the frame.

The Sea Unicorns answered immediately in the 7th on a Bryce Detwiler rocket over the left-field wall for a two-run homer, stretching the Norwich lead to 8-1.

Matt Wootton returned to the mound in the 7th and retired the leadoff man before running into trouble, surrendering back-to-back hits. Despite not finishing the inning, Wootton was stellar for Norwich, holding the Worcester offense to one run on eight hits, striking out two without issuing a walk over 6.1 innings. With two on and one out, Norwich turned to Matt Tabet, who escaped the threat by recording the final two outs.

The hosts rallied in the eighth for 3 runs, capitalizing on command troubles from Matt Tabet, who issued three walks in the inning. A leadoff walk to Nick Pappas and a single by Casey Wensley set the table for Jackson Marshall, who drove an RBI single into left to score Pappas. A one-out walk to Cam Papetti loaded the bases, and Henry DiGiorgio brought home another run with a grounder to first. Tabet’s third walk of the frame ended his night, forcing in a run on ball four when it skipped away for a wild pitch. Sean Connolly avoided further damage, retiring the next batter to preserve Norwich’s four-run lead.

Gio Conte locked down the victory tossing a scoreless 9th inning to clinch Norwich a 1-0 series lead.

Bryce Detwiler was named Futures League Player of the Night for the second consecutive night, finishing 4-for-5 with two runs scored, three RBIs, and a home run.

Win – Matt Wootton (1-0)

Loss – Evan Scully (0-1)

Time 2:25

UPCOMING

Norwich returns to Dodd Stadium tonight for Game 2 and will send Frank Spirito to the mound with a chance to win the series. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $5 for tonight’s playoff game.

Written by Adam Plager