Blowfish Win 4th Annual GameFish Cup

COLUMBIA - The University of South Carolina Alumni and the Columbia Blowfish wanted to make sure the fans got to enjoy a thrilling baseball game, even if it was just an exhibition. Tied 3-3 after nine innings, the coaches from both teams met at home plate to decide whether to play extras or let the crowd at Capital City Stadium enjoy the postgame fireworks. With some egging on by the fans, the teams decided to stick it out and the ending did not disappoint.
    With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, David Greene (Citadel) was able to beat out a double play. Demontez Jones (Georgia Southern) scored on the play to give the Blowfish a 4-3 win in extras to take their 3rd straight GameFish Cup in the annual rivalry between the two teams.
    "We were going to stop it at nine," Blowfish coach Lee Gronkiewicz said after the game, "But the Alumni wanted another shot to win this thing."
    The USC Alumni had a solid night in their second game of the summer. Derek Urquhart ('95-'98) was 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs and backed a good start by Steven Bondurant ('00-'03), who gave up only two earned runs on four hits in four innings of work. He also struck out four. Current Gamecock Patrick Sullivan pitched only two innings in his first start for the Blowfish, giving up no runs on two hits and a pair of strikeouts. Sullivan was limited in his pitch count after not throwing for several weeks.
    The Blowfish took the lead in the first inning when Branfy Arias (Tusculum) tripled off the wall in center field to score Chase Vergason (Florida Atlantic). Arias then came home on David Greene's (Citadel) line drive to give the Blowfish a 2-0 advantage early.
    Columbia added another run in the third. Arias walked and moved to second on a groundout. Branfy then advanced to third on a wild pitch from Bondurant. With two outs, it looked as if USC might escape the inning, but then Bryan Hill (Union) hit a pop-up to the outfield that was dropped by right fielder Tyler Speer (1997). Arias scored on the play to put the Blowfish ahead, 3-0.
    The score stayed that way until the top of the sixth. Drew Crisp ('05-'09) led off with a walk and moved to second on a groundout. Urquhart then turned a ground ball towards second baseman Max McEleney (San Diego). McEleney charged the ball, but it rolled under his glove into center field, allowing Crisp to score on the error and trim the lead, 3-1.
    The Gamecocks came all of the way back in the eighth against Columbia reliever Ryan Gunther (Elon). Davey Gregg ('03-'05) singled to start off the inning and moved up to second on Crisp's walk. After Bryan Triplett ('03-'04) moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt, Urquhart followed with a chop single that bounced out of the reach of Blowfish first baseman Brison Celek (South Carolina), bringing home Gregg and Crisp to tie the game 3-3.
    Columbia made a gamble to win in the ninth. Taylor Black (Kentucky) pinch hit and drew a leadoff walk. A Vergason sac bunt moved Black to second and a groundout by Ryan McCormick (Millersville) advanced him to third with two away. With two strikes on hitter Nick Abrahamson (Virginia Commonwealth), Black broke towards home on the return throw from USC catcher Garris Gonce ('01-'02), but reliever Blake Taylor ('01-'02) fired back to home. Gonce blocked home plate and tagged Black out to end the ninth.
    Finally, however, the Blowfish converted in the tenth. Abrahamson singled to start the frame and Jones came in to pinch run. After Jones stole second, Taylor walked McEleney. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third with one out, and the Gamecocks decided to intentionally walk Celek to load the bases and set up a double play opportunity. Greene followed and almost made it work, grounding to Crisp at shortstop. Crisp tossed to second to record out number two, but second baseman Bryon Jeffcoat ('98-'01) double-clutched the relay throw, allowing Greene to beat out the play and bring Jones home for the winning run.
    NOTES: As an exhibition contest, the Blowfish stats do not count towards their season numbers... The Blowfish hold a 3-1 edge in the annual GameFish Cup... Attendance was a season-high 5,588... Reliever Derrick Smith (Erskine) came in to face only one batter, DH Trey Dyson ('99-'02). "Trey works in an office with Derrick's mom," Gronkiewicz said, "Dyson didn't believe Derrick had the gas to get him out." Smith struck out Dyson... USC baseball coach Ray Tanner was in attendance. A charity auction helped raise over $1,000 for the Tanner Foundation... The Blowfish conclude a three-game homestand Sunday evening against Florence. Fireworks will follow the game to celebrate July 4th. First pitch is at 6:05 pm.