Sea Unicorns Come From Behind To Secure Important Win In Nashua
Norwich Mounts Biggest Comeback Win of Summer
The Norwich Sea Unicorns delivered their most dramatic comeback of the summer Thursday night in Nashua, overcoming a 6-1 deficit to stun the Silver Knights, 7-6, with late-inning heroics.
It was a pitcher’s duel early at Holman Stadium, as both starting pitchers kept the game scoreless through four innings. Norwich starter Jackson Pray tossed four shutout innings, allowing four hits while striking out two. Northeastern commit Malcolm Klingler matched him, scattering five hits over five innings while striking out five before exiting in the sixth after issuing a leadoff walk.
Nashua nearly opened the scoring in the second inning after Connor Smith led off with a single and stole second base. Nate Kearney followed with an infield single, giving the Silver Knights runners on the corners with no outs. JP Kuczik helped Norwich escape the jam by throwing out Kearney attempting to steal second. An inning-ending double play followed when TJ Baer fired home from right field to cut down Smith trying to score on a fly ball.
The Silver Knights finally broke through in the fifth when Adam Regan launched a two-run home run over the left-field wall to give Nashua a 2-0 lead.
The Sea Unicorns answered in the sixth, cutting the deficit to one on a CJ Nolan laser double down the left-field line that scored Jackson Powers. Nashua reliever Zak Lussier limited the damage by retiring the next three hitters to preserve the one-run advantage.
The home team responded with a four-run sixth to build a commanding 6-1 lead. Norwich right-hander Janvier Diaz ran into immediate trouble, allowing the first three batters he faced to reach safely and load the bases. Caleb Vacchiano delivered the big blow with a bases-clearing double into the left-center field gap. Phoenix Williams followed with an RBI single to center, bringing home Vacchiano to cap the inning.
Norwich began its comeback in the seventh, erupting for four runs to trim the deficit to 6-5. TJ Baer sparked the rally with a double down the left-field line before Mike Fiatarone reached base and later stole second, putting runners at second and third with nobody out. Jackson Powers continued his torrid July, lining a single to right to score both runners. JP Kuczik followed with a double to left to keep the pressure on.
After retiring Nolan, Nashua turned to Josh Martino with two outs and runners at second and third. Jake Howlett made the pitching change costly, ripping a two-run single up the middle to bring Norwich within one.
The Sea Unicorns completed the comeback in the eighth, continuing to capitalize against the Nashua bullpen. David Pengel opened the inning with an infield single before Kenny Noe drew a walk to put two aboard. Martino retired the next batter but uncorked a wild pitch, moving both runners into scoring position and setting the stage for Powers. The St. Anselm product delivered again, ripping a go-ahead double down the left-field line to give Norwich its first lead of the night.
Shaun Flannery slammed the door, recording the final six outs to earn his fourth save of the summer.
With the victory, Norwich now holds a 2½-game lead over Nashua with just nine games remaining in the regular season.
The Sea Unicorns return home Friday night for their final Friday home game of the summer. Michael Zalinkanskas is expected to make his second start of the season for Norwich, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EDT.
Win – Alex D’Ambrosio (1-1)
Loss – Josh Martino (0-2)
Save – Shaun Flannery (S, 4)
Time – 3:12
UPCOMING PROMOTION
K Cancer Night presented by Eastern Connecticut Hematology & Oncology | Masonic Family Night | Postgame Fireworks presented by Liberty Bank
Written by Adam Plager
