WILMINGTON- Wilmington starting pitcher J.C. Casey pitched a complete game as the Sharks' easily defeated the Columbia Blowfish 7-1 at Buck Hardee Field in Wilmington Friday night.
Casey (1-0) did not give up an earned run in nine innings and only allowed three hits to earn the win. The Sharks' (4-5) offense backed him up, rocking the Columbia (3-4) pitching staff with fifteen hits.
Wilmington set the tone with four singles in the first inning. Greg Bachman hit an RBI single to score Ben Kline, then Adam Gray singled home Adam Eggemeyer to make it 2-0 Sharks. Wilmington added another run in the third inning, when Gray hit another RBI single to score Jesse Bosnik to give the Sharks a 3-0 lead.
Blowfish starting pitcher Jeremiah Meiners (1-1) left early in a rough outing, giving up three runs on eight hits in only two and 2/3 innings. The aggressive Wilmington offense did not let up against relief pitcher Brandon Miller, chasing him with two runs on three hits. Bachman and Gray hit consecutive sacrifice flies in the fifth to score both runs, giving the Sharks a 5-0 lead. Kline tripled to lead off the sixth, then scored on another sac fly by Eggemeyer, making it 6-0.
Columbia's lone run came in the seventh when Matt Leeds reached on an error, then scored on Nick Chinners's groundout to make it 6-1.
Columbia pitcher Erik Sommerville walked Kline with the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, scoring Gray to make it 7-1.
Notes: Meiners's start was moved back a day after Thursday's game against Florence was rained out.... Wilmington now holds a 2-1 lead in the season series between the two teams... Columbia returns home Saturday night against the Thomasville Hi-Toms at 7:05 p.m. at Capital City Stadium. It will be Military Appreciation Night.
