RedWolves Woes Continue in 15-6 Loss
Published on July 5, 2015 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Florence RedWolves News Release
LEXINGTON, S.C.- On July 4th, the contest between the (16-14) [1-2 second half] Florence RedWolves and the (15-14) [1-0 second half] Lexington County Blowfish, featured several booms and busts, as the Blowfish went on to rout the RedWolves, 15-6 Friday night.
The postgame fireworks were no consolation for the RedWolves, for numerous errors and missed opportunities reaped havoc, giving Florence their third straight loss, and the eighth of their last nine games.
The RedWolves got a run to cross the plate in the top of the fifth, the first run of the ball game, after a Nathan Wierzgac (Lee University) RBI single to center field.
The bottom of the inning however, would prove to be the biggest difference maker of the ball game. Florence's starter, Tyler Haswell (University of South Carolina) entered the inning letting up just two hits. Sly Edwards (Charleston Southern) led off the fifth with a single to right and then stole second. Behind him, Jared Williams (University of South Carolina) walked.
After a ground out and strikeout, Haswell faced the Blowfish clean up batter, Connor Owings (Coastal Carolina). Owings hit a ground ball to second base and what should have been a routine groundout; Chaz Pal (USC-Aiken) misplayed the ball, as it trickled into centerfield, allowing both runners on base to score.
Lexington County didn't let up there, going on to score five more runs in the inning. After Owings reached on his error there were three more hits, a walk, HBP, and another error. The Blowfish scored seven run in the fifth inning, the weirdest stat about it all; every single run scored in that inning was unearned.
Florence tried to work its way back, posting a three spot in the seventh. Matt Williams (University of South Carolina) led off the inning with a walk; Adam Renwick (Clemson) reached on a 6-4 fielder's choice, but Williams was able to reach third, as the Blowfish shortstop sailed his throw into right field for the error. Thus with runners on the corners, Ray Lanners (Methodist) then flew out to left field, allowing Williams to score and Renwick move to second. Andrew Castillo (Tennessee Martin) singled into left, scoring Renwick to make it a 7-3 game. Castillo moved up on a wild pitch and Nick Nunziato (Belmont Abbey) too singled to center, which scored Castillo from second, 7-4.
In the bottom of the seventh, Lexington County uncorked another crooked number on the RedWolves, posting a five spot. It all started again with the ninth batter in the lineup, Sly Edwards, as he collected his second single of the night, beating out a bunt down the first baseline. Williams sacked Edwards over to second, followed by a JD Crowe (Francis Marion) single into left. Howard Joe (Mercer) was the next batter, sending a 2 RBI double into right field. Owings was issued a walk and Bennett Hill (Shelton State) singled. This warranted the second pitching change from the RedWolves, as Cole Lee (USC-Aiken) toed the rubber. The first batter he faced in, Trevor Bradley (USC-Aiken), who jumped on a 0-1 fastball driving it down the right field line into the corner for a bases clearing triple. With that, the Blowfish took a 12-4 lead going into the eighth.
Florence once again tried striking back, this time with two runs in the top of the eighth. Kolin McMillen (Flagler College) led off the inning by reaching on a throwing error by the pitcher, trying to lay down a bunt. Williams grounded into a 1-3 putout, advancing McMillen to second. Adam Renwick was able to get on base with yet another error, this time on the third baseman, Danny Edgeworth (Mercer); McMillen was able to score on the play. After Lanners' single up the middle, Castillo grounded into a 6-4 fielder's choice. On the play, there was no one covering first base to field the throw, as the ball was thrown into the Blowfish dugout, pushing all runners up a base, scoring the second Florence run of the inning, 12-6.
Lexington County refused to let those two runs go unanswered, scoring three more in the bottom of the eighth. The Blowfish earned back-to-back walks to begin the frame, followed by a single off the bat of JD Crowe. After a strikeout and a 3-2 fielder's choice, Hill singled to center, pushing two runs across, 14-6. Trevor Bradley picked up his fourth hit of the night, singling to right center. On the next pitch, all runners would move up 90 feet on a wild pitch bringing in the 15th and final run for the Blowfish.
In total, there were 21 runs scored off of 26 hits. Of those runs scored, only 11 were earned (Lexington-8, Florence-3) and seven combined errors.
Tyler Haswell ended up with an unorthodox loss (2-2) going: 4.2 IP, giving up seven runs, all unearned, on five hits, five walks, and five strikeouts.
Charlie Barnes (Clemson) was the starter for the Blowfish picking up his first win of the season (1-1) with five innings pitched, surrendering one run on five hits, no walks, and three strikeouts.
Florence moves to (16-15) [1-3 second half] on the season. They will be on the road again, Saturday July 5th, traveling to Morehead City to take on the Marlins.
The RedWolves will be back in town, Monday July 6th, playing host to the Peninsula Pilots. Game time is set for 7:00PM. Gates open at 6:00PM.
Tickets may be purchased online (florenceredwolves.com), by phone at (843) 629-0700, or at the ticket booth on game days, starting an hour before game time.
SAME DAY ONLINE TICKET PURCHASES MUST BE MADE BEFORE 2:00PM - All tickets can be picked up at the RedWolves ticket booth on game day. *
Coastal Plain League Stories from July 5, 2015
- Five Run Eighth Propels Sharks over Tobs - Wilmington Sharks
- Grizzlies Break Deadlock with Clutch Ninth Inning - Gastonia Grizzlies
- RedWolves Woes Continue in 15-6 Loss - Florence RedWolves
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