Columbia Falls in Game 1

FAYETTEVILLE N.C. - The Columbia Blowfish (12-21) fell to the Fayetteville SwampDogs (17-18) in the first game of a doublehead at J.P. Riddle Stadium.
The offense was much improved for the Blowfish, but it was the defense that cost them yet another game.

The Blowfish did to their opponent what had happened to them in the last three games: score before they get a chance to bat. Nick Orvin (Citadel) started the game by laying down a bunt in front of the plate. As he raced down the line, SwampDog catcher Joe Witkowski (St. John's) fielded the ball, but threw into right field to allow Orvin to move into second. Orvin stole second on the next pitch, then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Taylor Black (Kentucky).

Fayetteville responded in the home half of the first with two unearned runs. With one out, Nick Natoli (Towson) reached base with a single off starter Tyler Webb (South Carolina). After a strikeout for the second out, Eric Grabe (Tampa) singled to put runners on first and second. Chris Wychock (Towson) launched a ground ball to second baseman Dadynoel Lorenzo (Shorter), but he was unable to handle the sharply hit ball. Both runners were able to score on the play, putting the SwampDogs ahead 2-1.

The Fish answered in the third by using their speed. Ryan McCormick (Millersville) hit an infield single with one out, then stole second. He moved to third on a perfectly placed bunt single by Black. It was a passed ball that allowed both runners to move up 90 feet, as McCormick scored on the play.

Columbia had a chance to break this one open in the fifth, but left the bases loaded with two outs. It came back to bite them as the SwampDogs pushed ahead with two more runs in the fifth as the SwampDogs went on to take game one of the doubleheader 4-2.

NOTES: The Blowfish fell to 1-7 against Fayetteville with the loss... Game two of the doubleheader will begin approximately 8:50.