FLORENCE - Twelve hits were not enough for the Columbia Blowfish against one of the most productive offenses in the league. The Florence Red Wolves scored four runs in the sixth to rally past the Blowfish for a 8-3 victory Wednesday night at American Legion Field. Despite outhitting Florence 12-11, the Blowfish lost to the Red Wolves for the third straight game.
"We had no timely hitting," Blowfish head coach Lee Gronkiewicz said afterwards "Ours were all spread out over nine innings. They got theirs in bunches."
Florence starter Spencer Jordan (South Carolina, 3-0) got the win in his third straight quality start of the season, including his second against Columbia. Jordan gave up 10 hits, but only allowed three runs in seven innings, while striking out four. Blowfish reliever Thomas Little (South Carolina, 0-2) took the loss after giving up four unearned runs on five hits in 1.1 innings.
It took Nick Orvin (Citadel) only one pitch to do what the entire team couldn't in their last start against Jordan. Three weeks after Jordan shut out Columbia, Orvin drove the right-fielder's first pitch over the left field wall. The Blowfish would get another run across in the frame when Brison Celek (South Carolina) hit an RBI single to score Branfy Arias (Tusculum) and give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
The Red Wolves snapped Columbia's 21-inning shutout streak in the bottom of the first. Blowfish starter Chase Pickering (West Virginia) walked Shane Brown (Charlotte) and John Frost (Alabama-Birmingham), then took a Trey Hernandez (TX A&M-CC) line drive off his leg. The infield single rolled into shallow left field, scoring Brown from second to make it 2-1 Blowfish.
Florence manufactured a run to tie the score in the second. Benny Scott (Elon) and Stephen Carmon (USC-Aiken) singled with one out. Pickering then walked Corey Tilton (Charlotte) to load the bases. Brown followed with a hard shot down the left field line, but Columbia third baseman David Greene (Citadel) made a diving catch and tagged third. Scott did score on the play to even the game 2-2.
The Blowfish retook the lead in the top of the third, however. Chase Vergason (Florida Atlantic) doubled down the right field line and moved to third on a passed ball. Arias then lined a single into left center to score Vergason and give Columbia a 3-2 edge.
But the Red Wolves had another answer in the fourth. Carmon walked and moved to second on Tilton's groundout. Brown then laid down a bunt while Carmon broke for third. Brown beat out the throw to first, but no Blowfish were covering home. Carmon exploited the opportunity, sneaking past to tie the game 3-3.
The Red Wolves offense got going against Little in the bottom of the sixth. Tilton reached on a throwing error by shortstop Dadynoel Lorenzo (Shorter) and moved to second on Brown's walk. Frost then plated Brown with a single to left. Santora then scored Brown with a fielder's choice to third and Herman Petzold (Notre Dame) followed with an RBI single that brought Frost home. Mac Doyle (Wofford) then pulled a line drive into left to score Santora and give Florence a 7-3 lead.
Pickering did not get a decision in his third start. He allowed three runs, but also walked five and surrendered six hits.
NOTES: The Orvin home run to lead off the first was the first run given up all season for Jordan... Florence pitchers did not give up a single walk, while the Blowfish walked 11... Florence holds a commanding 5-1 lead on the season series... The Blowfish continue their road trip Thursday against the Wilmington Sharks at 7:05 pm.... Columbia returns home to Capital City Stadium Friday night for a doubleheader against the Wilmington Sharks. The first game will be a continuation of a June 2nd game that was suspended due to rain. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 pm. All fans in attendance will be automatically entered for a chance to win Atlanta Braves tickets.
