Norwich Sweeps Home and Home Series with Nashua

Nashua, NH – The Norwich Sea Unicorns continued their winning ways to begin the month of July, posting a convincing 8-3 victory over the Nashua Silver Knights. Norwich’s Thursday night triumph improves the Sea Unicorns to 13-17 through 30 ballgames.

There was no scoring until the 3rd when Norwich erupted for 5 runs against Nashua starter Justin Dressler. Aidan Baglino reached to start the frame on an infield single and later advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch. Later, Kenny Noe reached on a hit by pitch to give Norwich runners at the corners. Gavin O’Brien continued his hot stretch with a one out RBI single into right field to score Baglino. A walk to Gabriel Rivera loaded the bases for Norwich. A fielder’s choice groundout from Fairfield product Connor Scanlan allowed Noe to score, extending the Norwich lead to 2. Anthony Tirado delivered the knockout blow for Dressler, smashing a two out, bases clearing triple to give Norwich a commanding 5-0 advantage.

The Sea Unicorns added a run in the 4th to grow the lead to 6. Once again, Baglino started the inning with an infield base hit. A one out infield single from Noe provided Norwich traffic on the bases for Gavin O’Brien. The UMASS outfielder continued his productive day at the plate, delivering a one out single to score Baglino from 2nd.

The offense continued for Norwich in the 5th, adding a run to increase their lead to 7. A leadoff single from Scanlan, followed by a defensive miscue that allowed Alec Warden to reach, and a walk to Tirado quickly loaded the bases with nobody out. Joey Erace capitalized with a sacrifice fly to right, but despite the early threat, Norwich had to settle for just the one run.

Nashua broke through in the seventh after being held scoreless through six innings. The Silver Knights loaded the bases with one out following back-to-back singles from Will Shaheen and Jack Kidwell, and a hit-by-pitch to James Benestad. Cole Patterson drove in Nashua’s first run with a fielder’s choice to short. A throwing error by the Sea Unicorns’ second baseman on the back end of the attempted 6-4-3 double play allowed a second run to score, trimming the deficit to 5.

Gabriel Rivera launched his first homerun of the summer in the 9th to give Norwich an 8-2 lead. The blast for Rivera marks his first longball of the summer and matches Tirado with a team best 11 RBI.

Nashua scratched across their final run in the bottom of the ninth, aided by a Norwich miscue. Dave Yorke reached on an error by the third baseman with one out, and Jake Haarde followed with a pinch-hit RBI triple to drive him in. Sea Unicorns reliever Sean Connolly quickly regrouped, inducing back-to-back groundouts to lock down the win for Norwich.

Win – Cam Thomas (2-2)

Loss – Justin Dressler (1-3)

Time – 2:42

Norwich is back in action this evening for a double header with the first place Worcester Bravehearts. Luke Cardman (0-1) will take the baseball for Norwich in the opener of a crucial twin bill at Fitton Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Written by Adam Plager