The Norwich Sea Unicorns saw their mini-3-game winning streak come to an end after falling to the Nashua Silver Knights on Sunday 13-8. Norwich’s defeat is their first in the month of July and drops the Sea Unicorns to 20-13 through 33 ballgames.
There was no scoring in the ballgame until the 3rd when Nashua erupted for 4 runs to take an early 4-0 lead. Sea Unicorns starter Justin Marks began his outing in dominating form, facing the minimum through his first 2 innings of work. Unfortunately, things went awry in a hurry for Norwich after Nashua loaded the bases with one out. Norwich decided to make an early call to the bullpen for Yale product Teo Spadaccini, who immediately faced trouble. Nater Wachter began the scoring for the visitors, poking a single into right field to bring home a pair of runs. A sacrifice fly extended the lead for Nashua and allowed the baserunner on 2nd to advance 90 feet. Next, a balk from Spadaccini produced the 4th run of the inning for the Silver Knights.
Norwich was held scoreless by Nashua starter Andrew Chenevert until the 4th inning. The Sea Unicorns sliced the Nashua lead in half thanks to some production from the bottom of the order. Peter Link began the frame drawing a lead off walk and later advanced into scoring position swiping his 2nd stolen base of the summer. Antonio Ducatelli began his 4-hit afternoon wiring a single into right field to give Norwich runners at the corners with one out. Connor Lane continued his success against Nashua pitching, plating the first run of the game for Norwich with his first RBI of the summer with a base hit into left field. Later in the inning, Aidan Baglino delivered an RBI single of his own to bring home Ducatelli and cut the Nashua lead in half. Baglino’s base hit ended the afternoon for Chenevert and forced Nashua to go the bullpen to escape any further damage.
Nashua broke the game open in the 5th inning, exploding for 6 runs to take a 10-2 lead. In the inning, the Silver Knights sent 12 batters to the plate and did not have an out recorded until after the 8th batter in the frame. By the time Norwich pitching located the first out in the 5th, the Silver Knights had scored 3 runs and a new reliever was brought into the game. Overall, Nashua recorded 6 runs on 5 hits and a pair of walks.
The Sea Unicorns chipped into the 8-run deficit in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs. Christian Stratis began the inning being hit by a pitch and AJ Soldra followed punching a single into center field. A fielder’s choice groundout provided the host with runners at the corners and a walk to Nick Tomasetto loaded the bases with one away. Connor Lane delivered once again for Norwic,h legging out an infield single to bring home Stratis and Link.
Both sides were held scoreless in the 6th. However, the offensive silence did not last for long as the flood gates quickly returned in the 7th. A pair of defensive miscues committed by the Norwich defense opened the door for the Nashua offense. Initially an error by the Sea Unicorns shortstop allowed Nashua runners at the corners with one out. River Hart quickly advanced into scoring position swiping second base to break up any potential double play. A second straight error, this time by the Norwich first baseman, brought home both baserunners for the Silver Knights and extended their lead to 8.
Norwich responded with 3 runs of their own in the home 7th but that would be the closest Norwich would come, as both sides scratched across a run each in the 8th and were held scoreless in the 9th. Antonio Ducatelli and Connor Lane shined for Norwich offensively combining for 7 of the 13 hits recorded by the Sea Unicorns offense. Ducatelli finished his afternoon 4/5 with 2 runs scored, an RBI, and a double. The Central Connecticut State product is now batting .317 on the summer thanks to his first 4-hit performance in the Futures League. Connor Lane, who was the designated hitter for Norwich yesterday, finished 3/4 with 4 RBIs. The UCONN commit is now 6 for 9 in his last 3 games and is batting .261 overall.
The Sea Unicorns are back in action tomorrow night for the 2nd of 3 three consecutive meetings against the Silver Knights. It is Cow Appreciation Night at the ballpark tomorrow night presented by Mountain Dairy along with $2 Hot Dogs and other concessions specials. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.