Blowfish Take Both Games

June 15, 2013 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Lexington County Blowfish News Release


GASTONIA N.C.- Blowfish Take Game One 7-0!

Columbia Blowfish took game one of a double-header from the hosting (6-7) Gastonia Grizzlies Saturday afternoon.

The Blowfish opened the scoring in the top of the fifth inning. Dylan Kelly (Missouri) opened the inning with a single. He was pushed to third on an Erik Barber (Central Florida) double to center field. An RBI single from Ryan Bull (Notre Dame) pushed Kelly across the dish and moved Barber to third. DC Arendas (South Carolina) grounded into a double-play, but pushed Barber across the plate.

Gastonia would threaten in the bottom of the 5th, but was ended as Daniel Fraga (USC-Pembroke) was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a two-bagger.

The Columbia assault continued in the 6th inning. Michael Wilson (Francis Marion) drew a walk to open the inning. Eros Modena (Bethune-Cookman) pushed him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Wilson was pushed across off a Chase Shelton (Charleston Southern) RBI single. Allen Staton (North Greenville) pushed Shelton in with an RBI single. The wheels soon fell off for the Gastonia defense, allowing the Blowfish to carry a 6 run lead into the final frame.

Gastonia would fight back, loading the bases in the bottom of the sixth. The Blowfish defense held and the shutout continued.

In the top of the final frame, Michael Wilson would reach by error and later score off the bat of Allen Staton (North Greenville), extending the lead to 7-0.

The starter for the Blowfish was Zach Russell-Myers (Bluefield College), who tossed a complete 7-inning game. He gave up 0 runs off of 7 hits, issuing 2 walks, and striking out 1. Russell-Myers picked up his third win of the season, moving him to (3-1).

The starter for the Grizzlies in game 1 was right-hander Connor Gilmore (Central Arkansas), he threw 7 innings, giving up 7 runs, off of 10 hits, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts. Gilmore took the loss. It was his first season appearance dropping him to (0-1).

Blowfish Also Take Game Two, Sweep Double-Header from Hibernating Grizzlies 8-0

The Blowfish opened the scoring, plating 3 runs in the top of the fourth inning. Eros Modena (Bethune-Cookman) opened the inning by reaching on a bunt-for-hit. Chase Shelton (Charleston Southern) moved him to third with a single of his own. Allen Staton (North Greenville) plated the first run of the evening after Modena tagged up on a sacrifice fly.

Shelton was pushed to third on an Erik Barber (Central Florida) single to center field. David Houser (Tennessee) reached on a fielder's choice, Barber falling at 2nd base. A two-RBI double from Brandon Mitchell (North Carolina A&T) pushed both runners across to end the scoring in the fourth.

The Blowfish continued to pound the ball in the 5th inning. Cody Smith (Southern Methodist) started the team off with a first-pitch base hit. Michael Wilson (Francis Marion) continued the trend with a base hit of his own. Eros Modena landed another base hit to load the bases. Chase Shelton was walked with the bases loaded, pushing Smith across. Allen Staton drove in two runs with his next swing.

The game was highlighted by the performance of starting pitcher Cole Cockrell (Louisiana-Lafayette) who tossed 5 shutout innings. He gave up 0 runs off of 5 hits, no walks and 5 Ks. Cockrell picked up his second win of the season, moving him to (2-0). Zack Sightler (Winthrop) came in to take control of the battery in relief.

Ethan Steible (UNC-Asheville) took the loss for Gastonia, his first decision of the season.

The Columbia Blowfish will be back in action at home Sunday evening, June 16th facing the Florence Red Wolves, with first pitch set for 6:05pm. Gates open at 5pm. With it being Fathers Day, children are invited to play catch on the field with their dads before the game! Bring your ball and glove and come play catch! Also, kids under the age of 12 can run the bases after the conclusion of the baseball game!

For ticket information you can call us at 803-254-FISH(3474) or Log onto: blowfishbaseball.com.



Coastal Plain League Stories from June 15, 2013


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