Blowfish Split Doubleheader

COLUMBIA- If Columbia Blowfish coach Lee Gronkiewicz had to choose, he'd rather win the first game.

"You know what they say about doubleheaders. The only real winner is who wins game one," Gronkiewicz said after the second game Saturday night.

The Blowfish managed to split a pair of seven inning games against the Wilson Tobs, taking the first 8-2 before falling 4-1 in the nightcap at Capital City Stadium.

The Blowfish scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to win game one. Drew Mahaffey (Citadel 3-3) picked up the win after not allowing a run over the final two innings. Wilson starter Tim Adleman (Georgetown 4-4) was charged with the loss despite allowing only six hits over 5.1 inning. Three Wilson errors allowed three unearned runs to come across for Columbia.

Columbia took an early 1-0 lead in the first after Wilson failed to turn a double play on Branfy Arias's slow roller to third. Tobs' second baseman Aaron Watkins (Barton) made an errant throw to first, allowing Columbia's Matt Williams (Liberty) to score from second. The Blowfish made it 2-0 after Arias drove in Catlin Carter (UNC-Asheville) with an RBI single in the third.

Wilson tied the game in the fourth. Matt Zeblo (Belmont Abbey) scored on a wild pitch by Columbia starter Stew Brase and Jaquin Valdez (Barry) later hit an RBI single to plate Jake Astor (Southern Arkansas) and even the score, 2-2.

The Blowfish stormed back with a six-run sixth. Scott Wingo (South Carolina) scored on a wild pitch to break the tie, and John Long (Liberty) followed with an RBI single that scored Arias. :Long came around on Jeff Jefferson's (Liberty) double to give the Blowfish a 5-2 advantage.

Columbia wasn't done, however. Jim Rider hit a ground ball to shortstop off Wilson reliever Jason Trivett (Milligan). Tobs' shortstop Matt Johns (Western Carolina) came up throwing towards home, but the throw sailed into the backstop, allowing Matt Leeds (College of Charleston) and Jefferson to score. Rider later scored himself off Williams' RBI double to give Columbia it's 8-2 margin.

In game two, Wilson staked themselves an early lead after Justin Vazquez (Belmont Abbey)singled home Astor. Vazquez later scored on a wild pitch by Columbia starter Patrick Sullivan (South Carolina) to give the Tobs a 2-0 lead.

The Blowfish responded in the third. Derek Smith (Charleston Southern) doubled and came around on Williams' RBI single to narrow the lead, 2-1.

However, WIlson answered with a pair in the sixth. Long walked the first two batters and gave up a single to Nic Obey (North Dakota St) to load the bases with no outs. Back-to-back sacrifice flies by Watkins and Dale Cornstubble (Central Michigan) gave Wilson a 4-1 lead.

Wilson starter Frank Newcomb (Milligan 2-1) pitched a complete game, giving up only one run on six hits and no walks in seven innings to get the win. Sullivan (0-5) got the loss for Columbia after giving up two runs on six hits in five innings.

Notes: It was the final meeting between the two teams on the season, Wilson holds a 7-5 lead on the season series...The Blowfish hosted a Media Softball game before the first pitch.... Wilson finally left Columbia for its four-hour bus ride after midnight. The Tobs play another doubleheader at home tomorrow... The Blowfish will play their home finale Sunday against the Fayetteville Swampdogs at 6:05pm. It will be Host Family Night.