Norwich loses three straight over weekend

It was a weekend to forget for the Sea Unicorns last week, as the Norwich-based squad lost three games in a row to drop to 3-7 on the season.

Following back-to-back wins on Wednesday and Thursday, with the latter coming in walk-off fashion, Norwich lost a pair of one-run affairs before allowing 16 runs in a 16-12 loss Sunday to Pittsfield.

Four of Norwich’s seven losses this season have been by one-run, a trend that the Sea Unicorns would certainly like to be on the opposite end of.

The spiral started on Friday night at Dodd Stadium with a 7-6 loss to the Worcester Bravehearts. The Sea Unicorns topped the Bravehearts the night prior with the same score but were unable to work their late magic for a second time against Worcester.

The Bravehearts led 5-2 heading to the bottom of the seventh. The trio of Tyler Kipp, Sean Swenson and Dougie DelaCruz helped cut the deficit to one, as Swenson drove in Kipp with a double before DelaCruz brought Swenson home.

Worcester got both runs back in the top of the eighth, carrying a three-run lead into the bottom of the ninth. Despite putting the tying run on second base, Norwich was unable to pull off the comeback again, dropping a 7-6 thriller to Worcester.

Saturday was the start of another back-to-back for the Sea Unicorns, as they traveled to Pittsfield for the first of a home-and-home with the Suns.

Norwich’s offense wasted no time getting things started as it scored in each of the first four innings, taking a 6-2 lead into the fifth.

Then in the sixth, Pittsfield took advantage of some costly mistakes by Norwich to cut the lead to one. The Suns then tied it in the seventh before taking over in the bottom of the eighth. They scored three unearned runs in the inning, capping off a seven-run stretch that ultimately won them the ballgame.

The two teams met again in Norwich late Sunday afternoon and pitching took a back seat to a slugfest for the ages.

The teams combined for 28 runs on 37 hits while using a total of 13 pitchers. All 18 players in the starting lineups got a hit, and Pittsfield’s one through four hitters went a combined 12-for-21 with 11 runs scored and six RBIs.

Norwich once again brought the tying run to the plate, but leadoff man Ray Leonzi flew out to the left field with the bases loaded to close out the 16-12 loss and a dismal weekend for the Sea Unicorns.

After an off day on Monday, Norwich now heads to Westfield for a date with the first place Starfires. The Sea Unicorns will be back home at Dodd Stadium Thursday night when they take on the Nashua Silver Knights. (6:30 pm first pitch).