The Norwich Sea Unicorns were unable to overcome a 4-0 1st inning deficit, dropping the opener of the best of 3 series to the Vermont Lake Monsters 5-4. Norwich’s defeat Monday night is the first time all summer that the Sea Unicorns have fallen at home to Vermont.
Vermont erupted early, striking for 4 runs in the top of the 1st to take an early lead in Game 1. Norwich starter, Hector Alejandro issued a leadoff walk to Tyler Favretto and a base hit to Sam Cavossa to give the visitors runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs. The UCONN product responded retiring the next two batters he faced. The Lake Monsters did all their damage with a pair of outs, recording 3 straight hits. Zander Teator helped Vermont get on the board with a double to right field that escaped the reach of the Norwich right fielder to bring home a pair of runs. Chone James followed with a base hit to center field to drive home Teator from 1st, and another base knock by Jackson Sirois helped Vermont increase their early lead to 4.
Norwich responded with a run in the 3rd and another in the 4th to slice the Lake Monsters lead in half. Connor Lane reached with one out on a hit by pitch. Lane represented the first baserunner of the night against Vermont starter Brody Shawn who had retired the first 7 he faced in order. A wild pitch advanced the Norwich catcher into scoring position and a base hit by Kaiden Dossa into left field produced the first run of the night for the Sea Unicorns.
In the 4th, Norwich scratched across their 2nd run of the night after loading the bases with a pair of outs. Nick Tomasetto began the frame with a lead off base hit into left field and Antonio Ducatelli followed drawing a walk to give Norwich some traffic on the basepaths. Wake Forest product Brody Shawn recovered, striking out the next 2 Sea Unicorns. Next, Bo Yaworski was plunked on the first pitch he saw, loading the bases for Norwich. The second walk of the frame plated the second run of the night and ended the night for Brody Shawn who departed with a pair of outs and the bases loaded. Vermont manager, Matt Fincher elected to bring in Robbie Lee to clean up the mess and preserve the lead for the Lake Monsters. The right hander was successful, inducing a ground ball to first base to end the inning.
The Lake Monsters answered with a run in the 5th to claim a 3 run lead. Owen McKiernan began the stanza with an infield base hit. An error by the Norwich third baseman allowed Favretto to reach on his sacrifice bunt up the 3rd base line. Mark Quatrani delivered for the visitors, flipping a single into left field to bring home McKiernan from 2nd. Alejandro battled back, mitigating any further damage from the Vermont offense.
In the 7th, the top of the order made some noise against Robbie Lee, who had allowed one baserunner through 3 innings of relief. Kaiden Dossa extended the home 7th with an infield base hit and AJ Soldra followed hammering a double off the right field wall to bring home Dossa and trim the Vermont lead to 2.
Luke Cardman shined out of the bullpen, holding the Lake Monsters offense scoreless in his 3 innings of relief and struck out 3. The only blemish in the outing for Cardman was a base hit by Jack Rickheim.
Norwich rallied in the 9th, striking for a run to cut the Vermont lead to 1, but unfortunately that would be the closest Norwich would come in the comeback effort. The first 2 batters for the Sea Unicorns reached base safely due to some command trouble by Sean Gamble who plunked Connor Lane and walked Shaun Callahan who pinch hit for Tirado. Norwich decided to pinch run for both Connor Lane and Shaun Callahan for the speed of Chris Carson and Nick Sturino. After some early command trouble, Matt Fincher brought in Zander Teator to close out the ballgame for Vermont. The Sea Unicorns immediately utilized the speed of their pinch runners, converting a successful double steal. Teator was able to retire Dossa on a weak pop up to the shortstop forcing both baserunners to remain at their stations. Soldra closed the margin to 1 with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in left field and allowed Sturino to take 3rd. The Babson reliver secured the victory for Vermont with a fly ball to center field.
Win- Robbie Lee (1-0)
Loss- Hector Alejandro (1)
Save- Zander Teator (1)
Time 2:42
UPCOMING
The best of the 3 series will swing to Vermont tonight with the Lake Monsters holding the upper hand. Norwich needs a win tonight to keep their season alive and force a game 3 on Wednesday night back at home. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. EST from Centennial Field.