Florence pitcher David Haselden gave up only one earned run in 6 innings
FLORENCE - Legion Field in Florence is a hitter's park, with a short outfield. Add a strong wind blowing out, and the end result is disastrous for pitchers.
The Florence Red Wolves hit two home runs Friday, including a grand slam by Brad Raj (Grand Valley St), as Florence avenged Thursday's loss with a 13-3 whipping of the Columbia Blowfish.
Columbia starter Patrick Sullivan (South Carolina 0-4) gave up six runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings to get the loss. Florence's David Haselden (Clemson 4-3) picked up the win with three runs on six hits in six innings.
The Red Wolves got their first two runs across in the first inning. Sullivan hit leadoff batter Zach Caldwell (Missouri Southern) with a pitch. Caldwell then stole second and later scored on Barrett Kleinknecht's (Francis Marion) RBI double. Steven Neff (South Carolina) plated Kleinknecht with a single that bounced off the left field wall, giving Florence a 2-0 lead.
Florence got another run in the third inning. Sam DiMatteo (California, Pa) singled, stole second, and scored on Kleinknecht's single to extend the Red Wolves' lead, 3-0.
Florence scored two runs in the fourth without recording a hit. Sullivan walked Raj and David Masters (Kansas St) followed with a ground ball to third base. Columbia's Catlin Carter was not able to hang on to the ball after charging to make a throw towards first, allowing Masters to reach safely. Sullivan then walked Taylor Lewis (Maine) to load the bases with no outs. Caldwell laid off a breaking ball to take a walk, bringing in Raj. DiMatteo brought Masters home with a ground ball to short, but the Blowfish were able to turn a double play to end the Red Wolves' threat with a 5-0 score.
The Blowfish got back in to the game with a two-run fifth. With one out, Trent Still (Anderson) walked and Jim Rider (Kent St) singled to start the inning. Tyler McBride (Winthrop) then laced a single into left field. Lewis overran the ball in left, allowing Stil and Rider to score, closing the gap 5-2.
Neff hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning to give the Red Wolves a 6-2 lead. However, Columbia's Jeff Jefferson (Liberty) followed with a solo shot of his own in the sixth, making it 6-3 Florence.
Then the Red Wolves took control. Kleinknecht picked up his fourth RBI of the game with a two-run single in the sixth, scoring Caldwell and DiMatteo. Patrick Dolan (Charleston Southern) followed with an RBI single to score Burnett, chasing Sullivan. Raj grenew Blowfish pitcher Matt Williams with a a four-run shot to left, scoring Burnett, Kleinknecht, and Neff, as the Red Wolves put it away 13-3.
Notes: It was game one of a doubleheader... It was the third time this season that the Red Wolves defeated the Blowfish by at least 10 runs... Game 2 will begin at approximately 8:45.
