Unicorns Use Fifth-Inning Surge to Claim Game 1 Victory
June 21st, 2026
UTICA, Mich. – The Utica Unicorns (9-7) used a three-run fifth inning to rally past the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers (8-6) and take Game One by a score of 3-1 on Saturday night.
The Beavers struck first in the top of the fourth inning when Derek Gellos lifted a sacrifice fly to score Tommy Barth, giving the Beavers a 1-0 advantage. Barth paced the offense with a 2-for-3 performance, including a double and the team’s lone run scored.
The Unicorns answered in the bottom of the fifth. After putting runners on base, Chris Schoeller Jr. delivered the biggest hit of the game with a two-run single, while Cecil Lofton added an RBI single to cap the three-run frame and put the Unicorns ahead for good.
On the mound, Nick Cosentino kept the Beavers in check through four innings, allowing one run while striking out two. Michael Alan Stanford earned the win in relief, and Jacob Newman closed the door with a scoreless sixth inning and two strikeouts.
The Beavers outhit the Unicorns 5-4, led by Barth’s two-hit effort and doubles from Barth and David Coppedge, but were unable to capitalize on several scoring opportunities, leaving seven runners on base.