Norwich and Westfield’s 2023 series opener stayed close throughout and went down to the wire. Nonetheless, the Sea Unicorns ran out of steam and the Starfires prevailed 3-2 in the 10th.
Norwich scored first at home for the sixth time in a row. With two on and two out in the second inning, shortstop Dean Ferrara lined an RBI single up the middle. The Sea Unicorns tallied a third of their nine hits in the frame, but only had one run to show for it.
Westfield waited until the fifth to get on the board and capitalized off a wild pitch from Eastern Connecticut’s Matt Wootton. In his second start of the season, the Milford native tossed five innings of one-run ball while giving up two hits, a walk and four strikeouts.
The bottom half saw Norwich jump back in front thanks to a hit-by-pitch by returner Zac Zyons. However, the Starfires quickly answered in the sixth and the contest remained deadlocked at two heading into the final frame.
After a one-out double by newcomer Zack Kovalchik, the Sea Unicorns had a real chance to walk it off. But, a groundout and a strikeout meant extras for the first time all year.
Again, a wild pitch proved fatal and allowed Westfield to secure the lead it needed to win the game.
Norwich suffered its third loss at Dodd this year and dropped to 8-9. The Sea Unicorns have a chance to bounce back at home against the Silver Knights. First pitch is set for 4:00.