Blowfish Shut Out in Wilson

 Wilson starter Trent Howard pitched seven shutout innings, struck out nine, and allowed only two hits to earn the win as the Tobs defeated the Columbia Blowfish 5-0 Saturday night at Fleming Stadium in Wilson, N.C.

Blowfish starter Stew Brase was charged with three runs on three hits in five innings to earn the loss.

Wilson staked out a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Zach Johnson tripled to score Bobby Leeper, then trotted home on Dale Cornstubble's sacrifice fly. Columbia pitcher Stew Brase hit the next batter, Xavier Macklin, with a pitch, then gave up a single to Jeremy Dowdy. On the following at-bat, Dowdy made a delayed steal to second, drawing a throw from Blowfish catcher Trent Still. Dowdy was tagged out, but Macklin scored on the play to make it 3-0 Tobs.

Wilson added two more runs in the eighth. Four straight Tobs singled, including an RBI base hit by Johnson. Dowdy then hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Johnson, giving Wilson their final 5-0 margin.

The Blowfish were held to only three hits by the Tobs, all singles. The game lasted only a little over two hours. Columbia will return to Wilson on Tuesday for a rematch against the Tobs. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.