Blowfish Suffer Late Rally in 5-3 Loss

Tyler Christman struck out seven in six innings

COLUMBIA- The Fayetteville Swampdogs rallied to score three runs in the eighth as they stunned the Columbia Blowfish 5-3 at Capital City Stadium Friday night.

Fayetteville's Matt McGovern (1-1) picked up the win in relief after pitching a scoreless seventh inning. John Long (1-1) was charged with the loss after suffering a blown save, giving up three runs, two earned, in one and a third innings. Lee Zerrusen picked up his fifth save.

The Swampdogs got on the board in the top of the first inning after Michael Niemann singled, stole second, then scored on an RBI single by Matt Skirving to make it 1-0 Fayetteville.

Columbia tied it up in the second after Richard Mounce walked, then scored when Gabe Grammar grounded into a fielder's choice to make it 1-1.

Brendan Rowland led off the third inning with a solo home run to give Fayetteville a 2-1 lead. Grammar answered with a solo shot of his own in the fifth to tie the game again, 2-2.

Derek Smith led off the sixth inning with a solo home run to left, his first of the season, to make it 3-2 Columbia. Things unraveled for the Blowfish after that, however.

Four of the first five Fayetteville batters reached base to start the eighth inning. Jesse Lancaster singled home Eric Grabe to tie the game, then a bases-loaded interference call on Columbia catcher Branfry Arias allowed Niemann to trot home. Matt Kole hit a sacrifice fly to give the Swampdogs a 5-3 lead.

The Blowfish wasted a strong outing from Tyler Christman, who gave up only two runs on five hits and seven strikeouts in six innings.

Notes: It was the second multi-homer game for the Blowfish… Columbia's three errors tied a season high... Columbia and Fayetteville are now tied in their season series 1-1… Columbia stays home to face Florence Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. From 6:00 to 6:30, kids are invited to come play catch with the Blowfish.