Norwich - The Connecticut Tigers closed in on a New York-Penn League playoff berth with a 5-3 win over the Lowell Spinners on Sunday at Dodd Stadium.

The Tigers (41-34) can wrap up the wild-card berth with a win over Lowell in today's season finale. Brooklyn (41-34) beat Staten Island to remain tied but Connecticut holds the tiebreaker, winning the season series 4-2. Brooklyn is at Staten Island tonight. Both games begin at 7 p.m.

Jacob Kapstein's two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning broke a 2-2 tie and the Tigers added a run in the seventh when Steven Fuentes tripled with two outs and scored on Joey Pankake's single. Lowell (37-37) scored twice in the top of the first inning, but the Tigers evened the score in the bottom of the inning on a RBI single by Kasey Coffman and a bases-loaded walk to Ben Verlander. Kapstein and Coffman had two hits each for Connecticut.

Fernando Perez (6-4) got the win, allowing six hits and two runs over six innings with five strikeouts and a walk. Johan Belisario pitched the final two innings for his third save of the season.

College field hockey

• UConn opened defense of its national title by beating No. 14 Northwestern 3-2 in overtime. The third-ranked Huskies won it when freshman Charlotte Veitner scored with 3:44 left in overtime. Olivia Bolles assisted on the game winner and Nina Klein made two saves to earn the shutout. Sophie Bowden and Chloe Hunnable also had goals and Roisin Upton and Darby Smith had assists for UConn.

Waterford speedbowl

• The Back to School Bash, scheduled for Sunday afternoon, was postponed due to inclement weather. The show has been rescheduled to Sunday, September 21 with the same event lineup. The start time has been moved to 5 p.m., with spectator gates opening at 3 p.m.

The event will feature a 4-cylinder Enduro race, Demolition Derby, School Bus Bash, Ski Car Race, motorcycle stunt performer Luke Duke Emmons and more on-track surprises and action, capped off by an aerial fireworks display. Grandstand admission will remain at $18 per adult and $6 for ages 6-14. Age 5 and under are free.