FAYETTEVILLE
N.C. – The second half of the CPL season has started in a very similar fashion
to the way the first half ended for the Columbia Blowfish (12-22).
The
Fayetteville SwampDogs (18-18) completed the sweep of the doubleheader on the
evening as Columbia was dominated yet again by the opposing starting pitcher.
This time, it was in the form of SwampDogs’ starter Justin Burns (UC-San
Diego). Burns, who did not start at all during his collegiate season, pitched a
complete game shutout in the second game of the doubleheader.
“I tried to just
throw my sinker and let them hit the ball on the ground. We have an excellent
defense out there, so I let them do the work,” Burns said in his post-game
interview.
The Blowfish's
struggles early in came continued in the second game. With two outs in the
bottom of the first, Cory LeVier (Cypress) launched a triple down the right
field line that skidded just inside the first base bag. He scored when the next
hitter Eric Grabe (Tampa) chopped a base hit up the middle of the infield. The
inning was extended by Chris Wychock (Towson) when he launched a double that
plated Grabe from first to put the SwampDogs ahead 2-0.
Fayetteville
tacked on another run in the second inning, again with two outs. Benton Yaun
(Georgia College and State) was barely brushed by an offering from starter
Patrick Sullivan (South Carolina, 0-1). He stole second base, and was moved to
third by a single from lead-off hitter Christian Cummins (Illinois). He then
reached home on a passed ball that got away from Shawn Glover (Erskine) as the
SwampDogs took a 3-0 advantage.
That lead
proved to be more than enough for Burns. Tonight marked his first appearance
with Fayetteville on the season, and it was excellent. He allowed just two hits
all night on seven innings of work. He primarily pitched to contact, as indicated
by the fact that he struck out four while walking just one hitter on the
evening.
Columbia also
fell 4-2 in the first game of the doubleheader, as their defensive woes
continued to plague them. Three of the four runs they allowed were unearned,
including both runs in the first inning. The Blowfish lead 1-0 when Dadynoel
Lorenzo (Shorter) was unable to handle a ball grounded to him, as two runs
scored on the play. The Blowfish tied it up in the third when Ryan McCormick
(Millersville) scored on a passed ball. Fayetteville came back with two in the
fifth to provide the winning margin, thanks to a wild pitch by Tyler Webb
(South Carolina) and an RBI single off the bat of LeVier.
NOTES: After
striking out at least 7 times in their previous nine games, the Blowfish struck
out only eight combined times in the two games… Columbia commit zero errors in
the second game of the doubleheader. That marked only the third time this
season they have played a clean game defensively. They commit two errors in the
first game… Demontez Jones (Georgia Southern) was caught stealing for the first
time this season in the first game. He is now 13-14 in stolen bases on the year…
Columbia returns home tomorrow to take on the Morehead City Marlins at 7:05. It
will be Thirsty Thursday at Capital City Stadium, meaning 12 oz beers and sodas
will be just 1 dollar. All college students will be admitted free with their
school ID.
