Blowfish Pummel Marlins in Game 2

Brison Celek (red undershirt) is congratulated after hitting a three-run homer in the first. (Courtesy: Johnny Gasque)

COLUMBIA - The Columbia Blowfish (5-9) really like these game twos. Saturday night marked the second time the Blowfish played a doubleheader and for the second week in a row, Columbia defeated Morehead City (9-6) in the nightcap in front of 4,647 fans.
    With 3,200 soldiers in attendance from Fort Jackson for Military Appreciation Night, newcomers Nick Orvin and David Greene (both of the Citadel) went 2-for-4 in their second game for Columbia, while Ryan McCormick drove in three runs on a pair of singles as the Blowfish pummeled the Marlins 9-3 at Capital City Stadium.
    Columbia starter Randy Sturgill (California, Pa,  1-1) picked up his first win after giving up only two runs on six hits in five innings. Dave Kraznowiecki (Central Connecticut St,  0-1) had a rough debut for Morehead City, giving up three earned runs on three walks and three hits in 1.2 innings.

Sturgill gave up only two earned runs on six hits in five innings.

    The Marlins struck early in the top of the first when Zach Borenstein (Eastern Illinois) hit a solo home run over the right field wall to give Morehead City a 1-0 advantage. The Marlins have hit three home runs as a team, all against Columbia.
    Columbia responded very quickly, however. Orvin doubled into left field on the second pitch he saw from Kraznowiecki. Left fielder Luke Smiercziak (Florida Gulf Coast) tracked the ball down, but threw it wildly over second base, allowing Orvin to advance to third.
     Chase Vergason (Florida Atlantic) then grounded the very next pitch to shortstop Joe Sclafini (Dartmouth), who misplayed the ball. Orvin scored on the play. Vergason then stole second and Branfy Arias (Tusculum) walked. With no outs, Brison Celek (South Carolina) hit his third home run of the season with a three-run shot to clear the bases and put Columbia up 4-1.
    The Blowfish added another four in the third. Greene got things started with a single off reliever Chris Roman (Newberry), who then walked Bryan Hill (Union). Shawn Glover (Erskine) scored Greene with an RBI single and Dadynoel Lorenzo (Shorter) followed with a bunt single to load the bases.
    Ryan McCormick (Millersville) then brought Hill and Glover around with a single up the middle. Orvin followed with a groundout to score Lorenzo to put Columbia up 8-1 and give Nick his first RBI as a Blowfish.
    The Marlins closed the gap a bit in the fourth. Preston Shuey (Francis Marion) doubled to score Stephen Marino (Stony Brook) then took advantage of a fielding error by Columbia left fielder Hill to score and cut the margin to 8-3. Hill dropped a fly ball by Morehead's Gabe Brown (Lenoir CC) with two outs, leading to the unearned run.
    Columbia added another in the fifth. Glover walked and stole second, then scored on another McCormick single to give the Blowfish a 9-3 lead.
    The Fish lost game one 2-1 after starting pitcher John Long (East Tennessee) gave up a pair of runs in five innings for the loss. The Marlins' Brian Litwin (Duke) hit an RBI single to score Marino and Zack Borenstein plated Scalfini with another base hit as Morehead City took their second in a row.

Over 3,200 troops were in attendance

    NOTES: Columbia scored nine runs for the first time since July 15th of last season, when they beat Fayetteville 18-8... Coach Lee Gronkiewicz pretended to argue a call with home plate umpire Jeff Collins, who played along and ejected Coach Gronk. Gronkiewicz then put on his Army cap and saluted the troops. He then walked behind the pitcher's mound, grabbed the rosin bag, and pretended to toss it like a grenade.... Columbia is off Sunday before returning to the field Monday night against Fayetteville at 7:05 pm.... It will be Guaranteed Win Night. If the Blowfish lose, all fans in attendance will be able to attend another game free of charge.