Sea Unicorns Comeback Attempt Thwarted By Bees

Norwich, CT – The Christmas miracle fell just short at Dodd Stadium, as the Norwich Sea Unicorns lost 11-10 in extra innings to the New Britain Bees.

The Nutmeg State rivals had their number all night long. New Britain racked up 17 hits and 27 total baserunners throughout the game. It was a great night for the Bees’ five through seven hitters in the lineup, as they combined to go 9-17 with six RBIs and six runs. 

However, Norwich would have an offensive explosion as well. The team had 14 hits and 24 total baserunners. The top three in the order carried most of the weight, with Michael Fiatarone continuing to tear up the Futures League with two runs and two RBIs. Tyler Jones had an impressive night as well, going 3-6 with five RBIs. 

Despite an offensive onslaught, the defensive woes and pitching blunders cost the Sea Unicorns a much needed victory. Matt Tabet struggled in his start, going four innings with six hits, three earned runs and only two strikeouts. Liam Cardman struggled in his Norwich debut, allowing two runs and three walks in his one inning of work. Adam Carpenter took the loss in extra innings, allowing one earned run and another unearned as the Bees marched to a victory. 

CJ Nolan and Jones both had errors on the night. After manager Zach Gitschier put so much emphasis on eliminating the errors, it still seems to plague the roster. After two clean games in a row, this time the mistakes came back to bite them. 

As for the scoring, the teams combined for 21 total runs. New Britain jumped out to an early lead in the second inning after Tyler Garbooshian smacked a two-RBI single. 

Norwich quickly responded, rallying in the third inning. After Nolan reached base safely on an error, TJ Baer rocked an RBI triple to center. Fiatarone would follow that up with an RBI double to tie the game at two. Back-to-back walks would load the bases before Jones blasted a two-RBI single to put the Sea Unicorns up 4-2.

However, the Bees wouldn’t go down quietly. Throughout the next three innings of play, New Britain would score five runs to retake the lead. A sacrifice fly in the fourth would bring them within one run before Vincent Lombardo hit an RBI double in the fifth to tie the game. Michael Olander would hit an RBI double of his own, while Lombardo would strike for two more RBIs in the sixth to make it 7-4 New Britain.

Fiatarone hit an RBI single in the sixth to try and get Norwich back in the game. However, nothing would come of it and instead the Bees kept rallying along. The Hardware City tacked on two more runs through the next two innings to make it 9-5 entering the home half of the eighth.

That was when the Christmas spirit finally came to life. After loading the bases, Kenny Noe walked to drive in a run to make it 9-6. Then, Jones had his biggest hit of the summer with an electrifying bases-clearing double to tie the game at nine each. 

Neither team would plate a run in the ninth inning. In extra innings, the Bees scored two runs in the top of the tenth to go up 11-9. Things would go haywire in the home half, as Noe started the inning with an RBI double to put the tying run in scoring position with nobody out. However, New Britain would get three straight outs to secure the win. That included a controversial strike three call to Jones, which got Gitschier ejected from the contest. 

The Sea Unicorns finish off their homestand Sunday with a doubleheader against the Lowell Spinners. First pitch for Game One is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. E.T.

Win – Owen Pike (1-0)

Loss – Adam Carpenter (2-1)

Time – 3:45

Written by Mark Benway

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Sunday, July 26th vs Lowell Spinners @ 1:00pm (gates open at 12:00)

Sunday Funday

Make sure to have your kids 12 & under to stick around after Game One of the doubleheader, as they can head to the field to run the bases and have a catch in the outfield!

Presented by New London Public Schools Magnet Pathways

Wednesday, July 29th vs Westfield Starfires @ 6:30pm (gates open at 5:30)

Midweek Ballpark Bundle

Wednesday night baseball just got a whole lot better! This bundle allows fans to purchase a premium seat and 2 hot dogs for just $15!