Blowfish Fall Late to Tobs

COLUMBIA - Shawn Glover (Erskine) hit a two-run home run in the second inning for the Columbia Blowfish, but the Wilson Tobs tore apart the Blowfish bullpen and took advantage of a weak Columbia lineup to rally and win 7-3 Thursday night at Capital City Stadium.

Wilson's Tim Adleman (Georgetown 4-2) earned the win after giving up only three runs on seven hits in six innings. Columbia's Brandon Miller (South Carolina 0-2) was charged with the loss after giving up the go-ahead run in the sixth.

The Tobs' took the lead early, striking in the first inning. Bobby Leeper (UNC Wilmington) led off with a walk and advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw by Blowfish catcher Shawn Glover that sailed into right field. Justin Vazquez (Belmont Abbey) doubled home Leeper two batters later to give Wilson an early 1-0 lead.

Glover responded with a towering two-run home run to right, scoring Jason Coker (UNC Pembroke) and giving Columbia the 2-1 advantage.

Wilson tied the game in the fourth after playing "small ball." Columbia starter Justin Hopper (South Carolina) hit Rob Folsom (Oregon State) with a pitch to start the inning. Andrew Webb (NC Wesleyan) followed with a groundout that looked to be a double play. However, the ball was misplayed by Blowfish second baseman Scott Wingo (South Carolina), who could only retire Webb at first. Jake Astor (Southern Arkansas) followed with an RBI single to score Folsom and even the score 2-2.

The Tobs took the lead in the sixth. Miller pegged Webb to start the inning and Astor bunted Webb over to second. Drake Austin (Northern Iowa) then hit an RBI single to score Webb and make it 3-2 Wilson.

The Tobs pulled away in the following inning. Bryant Lopez (UT-Arlington) singled, Vazquez doubled, then Folsom followed with an RBI groundout to shortstop. A Webb single scored Vazquez and Austin plated Matt Faiman (Central Michigan) with a double to give Wilson a 6-2 advantage.

Columbia cut into the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Wingo walked, then moved to third on Glover's double down the left field line. Matt Williams (Liberty) then grounded out to second, scoring Wingo and closing the gap, 6-3.

Wilson added a final run in the ninth after Webb doubled and scored on Astor's single to left center to make it 7-3.

Hopper lasted five innings, allowing two runs on just two hits, but hurt himself with five walks. He also recorded five strikeouts.

Notes: Wilson tied Florence for first in the CPL South Division with the win... The Tobs took a 4-3 edge in the season series between the two teams... The Blowfish were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position... The Tobs picked up RBIs on six of their nine hits, compared with Columbia getting an RBI on just one of their eight hits - Glover's two-run homer... The Blowfish will take on the Fayetteville Swampdogs Friday night at Capital City Stadium. First pitch will be at 7:05 pm.