Sea Unicorns Struggles Continue In Loss To Vermont

Burlington, VT – The Sea Unicorns woes in 2026 continue in Burlington, losing another game in blowout fashion to the Vermont Lake Monsters, 9-1.

The first two innings were limited in actions on the basepaths, which continued into the third inning before Vermont created the first real scoring opportunity of the game. After two outs, back-to-back singles from Bryan Richman and Hunter Strohm put some life into the Lake Monsters dugout. Elias Huber followed in their footsteps, cracking a single into the left side of the field before Richman was thrown out at home plate after trying to score the first run of the game. 

After those three scoreless innings, Norwich starter Joe Pitts and reliever Alex D’Ambrosio had a rocky performance in the middle innings. 

The fourth inning was one to forget. An error started the inning, allowing James Henshon to reach base safely. Thomas Moss singled to put runners on the corners with nobody out, before Jake Dunlap hit an RBI single to left, scoring the first run of the ballgame. A groundout would advance both runners into scoring position before Brendan Walsh broke the game wide open, smashing a three-run home run over the walls of Centennial Field to put Vermont up 4-0. D’Ambrosio would enter the game following the blast and get two straight groundouts to exit the frame. 

However, the fifth wouldn’t be as nice to Marlboro native. Back-to-back singles started the inning before both runners advanced on a wild pitch, scoring Strohm from third. After that blunder, Henshon blasted a two-run home run to put the Lake Monsters up 7-0. The first out of the frame would finally come on a Moss strikeout, followed immediately by a Dunlap walk and Travis Stroh HBP. D’Ambrosio would get pulled after the two baserunners, being replaced by Elijah Wells. Another walk loaded the bases before a Patrick Shrake RBI groundout scored Dunlap to make it an 8-0 ballgame with Vermont in full control.

Obviously, the Norwich pitching staff struggled to contain the Lake Monsters offense. Multiple home runs and defensive blunders allowed Vermont to take the lead and pull away without much of a fight. This showed through the struggling Sea Unicorns offense, which only had 5 hits all day and limited action on the base paths through the first eight innings.

Vermont would add on in the sixth, as two walks with two outs in the inning led to a Dunlap single scoring Henshon on a throwing error. By the end of seven innings, the Lake Monsters were comfortably in the driver’s seat up 9-0. 

The Lake Monsters offense threatened with the mercy rule in the seventh inning, which Norwich desperately needed to avoid. The Sea Unicorns put in Sean Connolly to pitch, hoping for a better performance than some of his recent outings. After two quick outs, three straight walks loaded the bases with Vermont knocking on the doorstep of a double-digit lead. However, Connolly escaped the jam unscathed by striking out Henshon to end the frame.

The Sea Unicorns needed an absolute miracle in the ninth inning. They didn’t go down quietly, finally putting something together to make some noise late. Three straight walks to begin the inning led to Matt Park scoring on a wild pitch with all runners advancing a base. However, three straight pop flies ended the game, sealing another disappointing performance from the three-time champions. 

The Sea Unicorns are now 14-19 on the campaign. Norwich will face the Vermont Lake Monsters once again on Monday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET. 

Win – Doug Pyle (3-0)

Loss – Joe Pitts (0-1)

Time – 3:08

written by Mark Benway

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