Norwich Drops Wednesday Afternoon Meeting with Vermont
Norwich, CT – The Norwich Sea Unicorns could not keep up with Vermont on Wednesday afternoon dropping game 2 of the 3-game series with the Lake Monsters 9-2. Vermont’s offense was relentless, pounding out 17 hits in the victory. The loss drops Norwich back to .500 through their first six games, while Vermont climbs above the mark at 4-3.
Vermont opened the scoring in the 1st after loading the bases with no outs due to early wildness from Norwich starter Cam Thomas who walked a pair and hit a batter. Malcolm Whitfield drove in the first run of the afternoon for the visitors with a base hit into right field. The southpaw avoided any further damage after turning a double play and later a ground ball to second to end the inning.
The Lake Monsters extended their lead in the 3rd on a sacrifice fly to center. In the 4th, Vermont added on thanks to an error by the Norwich defense which later came around to score on a double by Bryan Richman.
Norwich battled with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning to cut the Vermont lead back to 2. Aidan Stern jumpstarted the offense for the hosts with a ringing double to the wall in left field. Fairfield product Aidan Baglino plated the first run of the afternoon for Norwich with a sac fly to right field to bring home Stern.
Unfortunately, that would be the closest Norwich would come as the Lake Monsters continued to pile on throughout the afternoon. Vermont struck for a pair in the fifth on a one out triple by Sam Cavossa followed by a base hit from Bryan Richman to build a 5-1 lead.
The Sea Unicorns tacked on a run in the home 7th after Jayden Novak worked a bases loaded walk to score Charlie Walsh who began the frame with an infield single.
With the bases remaining loaded and one out Matt Fincher summoned Sean Gamble into the ballgame to navigate the traffic jam. The move paid off as Gamble mowed down the first 2 batters he faced via strikeouts to escape the jam.
The reigning Reliever of the Year was as advertised picking up his 2nd save of the summer recording 7 strikeouts in the process in 2.2 innings of work.
Vermont added a run in the 8th on a 2 out double from Shaun McMillan drilled to center field. The Lake Monsters put the game out of a reach in the 9th adding 3 more runs to take a 9-2 lead.
Norwich will look to win the series tomorrow night when they send Brendan Grady to the rubber opposite John Delgado. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Join us tomorrow night for Thirsty Thursday with Narragansett Beer Specials.
Win – Jack Birtwell (1-0)
Loss – Cam Thomas (0-1)
Save – Sean Gamble (S,2)
Time – 3:30
Written by Adam Plager