NORWICH, CONN. – Third-year Westfield Starfire and American Interational College star Josh Frometa racked up three RBI, while Nathan Pirog threw five shutout innings, as the team downed the Norwich Sea Unicorns 5-2 on Sunday, June 1 at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Connecticut.
The Starfires earned their first victory away from home this year, bringing their record back up to an even 2-2, with both victories coming over the Sea Unicorns who are also now 2-2.
In the top of the second, the Starfires started with Cornell product Ryan Dillon and Keene State product Jonathon Chatfield each drawing walks. After a fielder’s choice put runners on the corners, Ryan Keating attempted to steal second, where the throw down sailed into center field to score the first run. Iona’s Cole Silvia then singled home Keating as Westfield got a pair in the inning.
Southpaw and Keene State product Pirog got the call on the bump for Westfield and was nearly flawless through two with a walk as the Sea Unicorns’ lone baserunner. Norwich got a little bit of energy in the third after a double and a single put two runners on. However, Pirog made a nice play on a comebacker to the mound, starting a timely 1-6-3 double play to escape the jam and preserve the shutout.
The score remained at 2-0 until the top of the fifth. Silvia drew a walk, then after Boston College’s John Mass singled, the two successfully executed a double steal to set up two in scoring position for Frometa. The Chicopee native singled up the middle to plate the second and third runs of the game. A few batters later, Ryan Dillon drove in Frometa with a base hit of his own, and the Starfires were in business, up 5-0 on the road.
In the bottom of the frame, Pirog ended his day with another shutout inning. His outing concluded with five innings of four-hit ball with only one walk.
For the first time in the game, the Sea Unicorns were able to convert with runners in scoring position in the sixth. Norwich got a single, a walk, another single to score their first run, and then a run-scoring groundout to get a couple of runs on the board.
Still trailing 5-2 in the eighth, the Sea Unicorns started to get the crowd excited once again after juicing the bases off a Starfires error and two walks. However, Stonehill College senior Rob Moynihan recovered with a flyball to right, stranding the bases loaded as the Starfires headed into the ninth still up three.
Another Stonehill Skyhawk, Kacin Robinson, led off the ninth with a pinch-hit single, then stole second to set up another plate appearance for Frometa. Frometa then came through for some insurance with a single to get his third RBI on the day and his seventh on the season, good for second in the FCBL.
Now leading 6-2, Westfield called on Jasper Nadel to get the final three outs, and all the Sea Unicorns could manage was a one-out single versus the George Washington hurler with the Starfires getting their second straight win against the Sea Unicorns.
In addition to Frometa, another NE10 player, Michael Quiros from Franklin Pierce, had two hits, while Peter Keblinsky doubled in the win. The team also had six stolen bases off the Sea Unicorns.
The pitching staff allowed a season-low two runs as Cody Hesselton, Rob Moynihan, and Jasper Nadel all had scoreless appearances in relief.
The Starfires will have an off day tomorrow and then return to Bullens Field for a twin bill against the New Britain Bees on Tuesday, June 2. Game one is currently scheduled for 10:30 a.m., with the second game commencing approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
