8-5-21 Sea Unicorns 8 Rox 6

(Norwich, CT) -- The Norwich Sea Unicorns defeated the Brockton Rox 8-6 Thursday night at Dodd Stadium in a game that featured a little of everything

Anthony Porrino (Locust Valley, NY) came up to the plate with runners on second and third in the third when he swung and missed on a ball in the dirt for strike three. He took off for first as the catcher’s throw sailed into right field, allowing Korey Morton (Norwalk, CT/University of Connecticut) and Hunter Yaworski (Brooklyn, CT/Mitchell College) to both score for an early Sea Unicorns 2-0 lead on a play with two errors. Josh Taylor (Newtown, CT/Central Connecticut State University) ripped a double into left field that scored Porrino, extending Norwich’s lead to 3-0.

Yaworski launched his second home run of the season leading off the fifth, belting a solo shot over the right field fence to give the Sea Unicorns a 4-0 lead. Yaworksi finished the night 3-4 with three runs and an RBI. T.J. Keefe (Weymouth, MA/Pace University) knocked in Porrino with a single that extended the Sea Unicorn lead to 5-0.

Brockton attempted to make a comeback as they surged for four runs in the sixth, to cut the Norwich lead to 5-4. However, in the sixth, Porrino knocked in Morton on a single that gave Norwich a two-run cushion at 6-4. Ian Battipaglia (Chrsire, CT/Franklin Pierce University) hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Yaworski to make it 7-4 Norwich. In the seventh, Morton drove in Leo Dionicio (West Hartford, CT/Dayton University) on an RBI single to extend the lead to 8-4.

Brockton got two more back on a two-run homer from Andrew Possi (Milton, MA/UMass - Dartmouth), cutting the Norwich lead to 8-6. They got the tying runs on in the ninth, but Torniero made his second clutch run-saving diving catch in left field and Tommy Hughes (Newington, CT/Southern Connecticut State University) picked off Nick Mistone at second for the final out of the game.

Luke Mathewson (Eastford, CT/Westfield State University) pitched lights out for Norwich, going five shutout innings, allowing three hits with three strikeouts. Vincenzo Camera (East Haven, CT/Westfield State University), Liam Milewski (Old Lyme, CT/UConn Avery-Point), and Hughes combined for 3.2 innings of relief allowing just one earned run on four hits.

The Sea Unicorns go on the road Friday (8/6) to take on the New Britain Bees at 6:35 pm. The Sea Unicorns return home Saturday (8/7) as the Bees visit Dodd Stadium for another in-state rivalry matchup at 6:00 pm, with a jersey cooler bag giveaway for the first 500 fans presented by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. There will also be the final Post-Game Fireworks Show of 2021, presented by Liberty Bank.