MOREHEAD CITY N.C. – The Columbia Blowfish (12-17) fell to the Morehead City Marlins (17-13) behind a dominant performance by Marlins starter Brent Powers (Sam Houston State, 3-2) in a pitcher's duel at Big Rock Stadium.
Powers retired 25 of the last 26 Blowfish batters he faced. The only Fish to reach base after the first inning was Taylor Black (Kentucky), who reached on a Steve Marino (Stony Brook) error in the fifth. He struck out a team-record sixteen, including striking out the side in the second, seventh, eighth and ninth innings. He allowed only one earned run on the evening.
The Blowfish got the scoring started early in the top of the first. Consecutive singles by Nick Orvin (Citadel) and Chase Vergason (Florida Atlantic) put runners on first and second with no outs. They then attempted a double steal, but Vergason was gunned down at second while Orvin slid safely into third. After Branfy Arias (Tusculum) walked then stole second, Orvin broke for home without a look from Marlins starter Brent Powers (Sam Houston State). Orvin was safe at home, as he was able to slide into the plate without a tag from catcher Corey Bass (North Florida).
Morehead City responded immediately in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter Joe Sclafani (Florida Gulf Coast) drove the first pitch he saw over the right centerfield fence for his first homerun of the year that tied the game at 1.
Columbia starter Ryan Garton (Florida Atlantic) was not as efficient as his counterpart, but was equally effective while he pitched. He allowed a Marlins base runner to reach second base in the first three innings before retiring eleven straight Marlins batters to end his outing. He allowed just one run on four hits on the night, while striking out six. He did issue 2 free passes on the night.
The Marlins broke the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the seventh against the Blowfish bullpen. Bass drew a walk with one out against pitcher Chad Hodges (Shorter) to bring up Schlafani. He took a Hodges curveball deep to left field for his second homerun of the game as Ryan McCormick (Millersville) climbed the wall. That home run gave him all three RBIs on the evening for Morehead City.
NOTES: Morehead City has hit five of their eight homeruns this season against the Blowfish… Arias' stolen base in the top of the first was his league-leading 23rd… Chad Hodges picked off yet another runner in the bottom of the seventh. He now leads the CPL with 11. The next closest CPL team has 7… Orvin's steal of home was the 3rd time the Blowfish have stolen home this year… Powers struck out nine straight batters to end the game… Columbia returns to Capital City Stadium tomorrow to take on the Fayetteville SwampDogs in the first game of the Independence Day Weekend Fireworks Extravaganza.
