MOREHEAD CITY, NC – As the old saying goes, "To be the best, you have to beat the best."
The Columbia Blowfish (9-11, 20-27) did just that as they beat the streaking Morehead City Marlins (12-4, 27-17) 5-4 Saturday night on Puck O'Neill Field at Big Rock Stadium. The victory over the best team in the CPL second half snapped the Marlins' winning streak at seven games while Columbia extended their own hot streak to nine wins in their last twelve games.
Marlins starter Brad McAllister (Barry, 6-1) was dominate through five innings, allowing just 1 run on four hits, but imploded with two outs in the sixth to take the loss. Lead-off hitter Nick Orvin (Citadel) drew a walk to start the inning, but Taylor Black (Kentucky) and Matt Williams (Liberty) struck out to put two outs on the board, although Orvin swiped a bag during each at-bat. That was when the trouble began.
Brison Celek (South Carolina) hit a single that scored Orvin to bring up Branfy Arias (Tusculum). Arias hit a double down the field line and Celek moved into third on the play. Then, third baseman David Greene (Citadel) followed with a double of his own, this one a two run shot to put his team on top 4-3. After reigning Rawlings Hitter of the Week Demontez Jones (Georgia Southern) drew a walk to extend the inning, catcher Shawn Glover (Erskine) added a single to score Greene and put the team in front 5-3.
That difference would be more than enough for reliever Ryan Gunther (Elon, 1-2), who pitched two scoreless innings for the Blowfish after starter Jake Zokan (College of Charleston) struggled in his four innings of work. Tucker Hawley (Alabama) pitched the seventh, allowing one run on a wild pitch, before Derrick Smith (Erskine) came on and nailed down the game by pitching two scoreless innings to pick up his fourth save of the year.
The Blowfish added an insurance run in both the seventh and eighth innings off the Marlins bullpen. Black reached on an error to start the seventh inning, then stole second. He came around to score on Celek's second RBI single in as many innings. In the eighth, Max McEleny (San Diego) drew a pinch-hit walk with two outs in the eighth, and then raced all the way around to score when Orvin launched his third triple of the season off the centerfield wall to put the Blowfish ahead by the final score, 7-4.
NOTES: The Marlins last loss game to the Blowfish as well, when Columbia won in Morehead City on July 11th by a final score of 9-4... The Fish scored six of their seven runs on the game with two outs in the inning... Columbia returns to the Cap tomorrow to take on the Wilmington Sharks at 6:05 PM. It is Bark in the Park, and all fans are invited to bring their friendly, well-behaved canine companions with them to the ballpark.
