A Walkoff Wednesday
A walkoff walk on Education Day at Dodd Stadium secured the Norwich Sea Unicorns their second consecutive walkoff win. The Sea Unicorns closed out their homestand with 3 straight wins, and have improved to 4-1 overall, through their first 5 games.
Norwich opened the scoring in the third inning after shortstop Alex Irizarry set the stage with a one out triple to the right field wall. The triple for Irizarry was his first of the summer and the first for any Sea Unicorn in 2024. Irizarry came in to score following a fielder’s choice ground out put in play by Brennan Hyde. New Britain answered back with a pair of runs in the top of the 4th to take a 2-1 lead.
Once again Norwich had to battle back at home after surrendering an early lead. The Sea Unicorns offense restored their one run lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Nick Tomasetto began the rally with a leadoff infield single and quickly advanced into scoring position with his 2nd stolen base of the season. Antonio Ducatelli brought home Tomasetto after delivering his first RBI of the summer. Newcomer Aidan Baglino produced his first RBI, in his debut this summer, with a sacrifice fly to right to give Norwich a 3-2 lead.
Norwich’s lead was short-lived as New Britain punched back with a run in the 5th to even the game at 3. The ballgame would remain deadlocked at 3 until the bottom of the 9th. Both sides received impressive performances from their bullpens, holding the opposing offenses to 5 hits combined. Jimmy Mulvaney made his first appearance of the summer for Norwich and hurled 3 innings of 1-hit baseball while punching out 3. Gavin Hawkes (1-0) earned the victory for Norwich, working two scoreless innings. Ultimately, Norwich broke the stalemate in the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs on a bases loaded walk to Anthony Tirado to win the ballgame. Tirado has now brought home the game winning run for Norwich in each of their walkoff victories to conclude the homestand.
Defensively the Sea Unicorns committed four errors for the second straight game, and New Britain made two. The aggressive baserunning played a factor once again for Norwich, swiping three bags in the victory.
Today’s road trip to Westfield had been postponed by rain. The make up date is to be determined. The Sea Unicorns will return to Dodd Stadium on Friday (May 31) at 6:30pm for the annual Military Appreciation Night game (presented by V.E.T.S.), as they once again face the New Britain Bees. The game will be followed by a fireworks show presented by Liberty Bank.