Blowfish End 1st Half With Win

Richard Mounce earned the win in his first outing

COLUMBIA- On a night where the Wilmington Sharks' veteran starter pitched very effectively, it was two Columbia Blowfish pitchers making their first appearances who came out out on top Monday as Columbia edged out Wilmington 3-2 at Capital City Stadium.

Richard Mounce (Clemson 1-0) picked up the win in his first appearance as a pitcher for Columbia (9-19). Mounce gave up only one hit in two innings of relief while striking out three. Blowfish starter Mark Henderson (USC Aiken) gave up two runs on six hits in five innings in his first game for Columbia. Wilmington (10-19) starter Daniel Cropper (UNC Wilmington 2-2) struck out eleven in seven innings, but gave up a crucial home run to Derek Smith (Charleston Southern) that gave Columbia the lead.

The Blowfish scored the game's first run in the second inning after Jason Coker (UNC Pembroke) led off with a single and later advanced to third on a Matt Williams (Liberty) base hit. Branfry Arias (Tusculum) then hit an RBI groundout to second base that plated Coker and gave Columbia a 1-0 lead.

The Sharks answered immediately, however. In the top of the third, Henderson walked Christian Overstreet (Missouri St) with two outs. Overstreet then stole second and came around to score on Michael Rooney's (UNC Wilmington) double to tie the game 1-1.

Wilmington took the lead the next inning. Greg Bachman (Austin Peay) singled in the fourth and advanced to second on Henderson's wild pitch. Andrew Guerra (St. Louis) then brought Bachman home with an RBI single up the middle to give Wilmington a 2-1 lead.

Cropper coasted until he made two costly mistakes in the seventh. Cropper hit Coker with a pitch, then left a fastball high to Smith. Smith hit his third home run to right center field to give Columbia the lead 3-2.

The Sharks had a golden opportunity to tie the game in a crazy eighth inning. Columbia's Jeremiah Meiners (Francis Marion) relieved Mounce to start the inning and caused Wilmington's Adam Eggemeyer (SIU Edwardsville) to ground out. Jesse Bosnik (St. Bonaventure) then singled and Columbia coach Tim Medlin made a pitching change, putting in left hander John Long (Liberty). Guerra greeted Long by ripping a double to left field, putting runners on second and third with one out. Medlin went to his bullpen again, bringing in closer Drew Mahaffey (Citadel). Mahaffey then struck out the next two batters to escape the inning.

It was Mahaffey's third save of the season.

Notes: It was the final game of the first half for Columbia. Their record now resets to 0-0.... Trent Still (Anderson) was hitless. It was the first time Still failed to reach base as a starter... The series is tied 3-3 between the Sharks and Blowfish, with the home team winning each game... Both teams will play again Tuesday night at Buck Hardee Field in Wilmington at 7:05 pm. .