Blowfish Win in a Walkoff 4-3

COLUMBIA - This one had all the makings of a long night. Apparently, Columbia's Nick Orvin (Citadel) and Chase Vergason (Florida Atlantic) did not like the idea of that.

The Columbia Blowfish (10-14) defeated the Wilmington Sharks (12-13) in their first walk-off victory in nearly a year thanks to a stellar pitching performance by Columbia starter Chase Pickering (West Virginia) and timely hitting from Vergason and Orvin.

The Blowfish got started early, when Orvin and Vergason began the bottom of the first inning with consecutive base hits. After a walk to first baseman Brison Celek (South Carolina) loaded the bases, David Greene (Citadel) lofted a ball to centerfield to score the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly. Vergason then came around to score when the struggling Bryan Hill (Union) drove him in with a softly hit single that found its way through the right side of the infield and made the game 2-0 in favor of the Fish.

The Sharks struck back in the third, when Alex Hill (UNC-Wilmington) singled, then stole second. With two outs, Gregg Fujii (Virginia Commonwealth) hit a single that drove Hill in to cut the Blowfish advantage in half, and make the score 2-1.

Then the pitchers took over. Pickering had a phenomenal start for the Fish after struggling in his previous outing, although he did not pick up a decision. He pitched seven plus innings for the Blowfish, allowing only one earned run on the evening. Pickering was also extremely efficient, according to pitching coach Blaze Lambert.

"We told him to slow things down a little bit and just throw strikes," Lambert said in a post-game interview. "We wanted him to simplify things and he did that very well tonight. He gave us a chance to win."

Pickering had struggled with command all year, allowing 16 walks in just 15 2/3 innings entering tonight's game. Tonight, however, he issued only one base on balls, while striking out nine Shark hitters. Pickering's counterpart from the Sharks was Zach Taylor (Evansville). Taylor was not nearly as effective, but still gave his team a chance to win by pitching five innings and only allowing two runs.

The Fish added what appeared to be an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh. Orvin doubled with two outs in the inning, then scored on a Fujji throwing error off a Chase Vergason ground ball. Orvin alertly broke for third on contact, then continued running with two outs on the play. It turned out, however, that the Fish needed that run as they nearly fell victim to another heartbreak at the hand of the Wilmington Sharks. In the top of the ninth, Derrick Smith (Erskine, 2-1) returned to pitch after striking out the side emphatically in the eighth. The inning began with a single by first baseman Kenny Bryant (Presbyterian), who moved to third on a perfectly executed hit and run with teammate Matt Willis (Barton). With runners on the corner and no outs, Smith got what appeared to be a double play ball off the bat of Nate Horton (Presbyterian), but Dadynoel Lorenzo (Shorter) muffed the ball, and was only able to retire the lead runner at second, while Bryant scored from third to cut the advantage to 3-2. Smith debuted a smooth pickoff move and made a great throw to first to nail Horton, who was caught leaning the wrong way.

The Blowfish appeared to be in control and the Sharks were down to their last strike when third baseman Conor Szczerba (Mercer) hit a soft roller to second. Ryan McCormick (Millersville) charged and threw to first, but his throw drew Greene down the line towards home, which caused his glove to collide with the runner, resulting in an error, and more importantly, a base runner. Szczerba stole second, then advanced to third on a passed ball that glanced off the glove of catcher Shawn Glover (Erskine). With the count full, Smith throw a wild pitch that rolled all the way to the backstop, allowing Szczerba to score from third.

The momentum was completly in Wilmington's favor at this point, and it appeared the game was headed for extra innings. But, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Orvin launched a ball to left centerfield. Willis nearly made a spectacular catch on the play while crashing into the wall. He was unable to hold on, and Orvin was safe at second with a double that set up a situation very similar to the one that unfolded in the seventh. Due up was Vergason, and on a 2-1 count, Vergason drove a ball back up the middle as Orvin broke for third on contact. The ball was knocked down by shortstop Aaron Miller (Gardner-Webb) but third base coach Blaze Lambert aggressively waved Orvin home as the ball trickled into the outfield. Orvin scored standing up to secure the victory for the Blowfish 4-3 for their first walk-off victory since June 26th 2009.

NOTES: Columbia's defensive woes continued, as they commit two late errors in the game... Tonight's victory for the Blowfish ties up the season series between the two teams at three games a piece... Lambert was the acting head coach because Head Coach Lee Gronkeiwcz was ejected in the second inning for arguing that a foul ball near the Wilmington bullpen should have been called interference... The Blowfish travel to Fayetteville before returning home Friday to face the SwampDogs in a home and home series. All fans in attendance Friday night will be automatically entered for a chance to win 2 Atlanta Braves tickets, and all college students will be admitted free with their student ID.