Edenton Takes Rain-Shortened Game

COLUMBIA- Doug Kroll was 3-for-3 with two doubles as the Edenton Steamers took advantage of a rain-shortened contest to win 7-2 over the Columbia Blowfish Monday night at Capital City Stadium.

 The Blowfish (1-4, 10-23) had taken the field in the top of the sixth inning when a flash of lightning caused the umpires to call a rain delay. An hour later, the game officially became final.

 Scott Burris (2-1) gave up two runs on four hits in five innings to earn the win. Patrick Sullivan (0-2) took the loss after surrendering seven runs, five earned, on eight hits in five innings.

The Steamers (2-3, 15-18) took an early lead in the first inning. Kroll's RBI double scores Broc Sutton to make it 1-0 Edenton.

 Blowfish mistakes allowed two more runs to come across in the third. Sullivan walked Jared DeLong to lead off the inning, then gave up a single to Billy Swanson. After a passed ball by Nick Chinners advanced the baserunners to second and third with one out, Sutton brought DeLong home on a groundout to second. Kroll then hit a hard grounder to shortstop Matt Williams, who made a diving stop but overthrew first base, allowing Swanson to score and give Edenton a 3-0 lead.

 The Blowfish answered with two runs in the bottom of the third. Tyler McBride singled to start the inning and advanced to third on Matt Williams's hit-and-run single up the middle. McBride later scored after Catlin Carter's grounded into a double play. With two outs and nobody on, Branfry Arias singled to center and later stole second. Matt Leeds's followed with an RBI double that carried to the wall in right field, scoring Arias to close the gap 3-2.

 Edenton pulled away after that. Dan Williams reached after a fielding error by Matt Williams, then reached second on another DeLong walk. Williams later raced towards third after a wild pitch by Sullivan. Chinners's ensuing throw sailed over third base, allowing Williams to trot home and give edenton a 4-2 advantage.

 Two more runs came across for the Steamers in the fifth. Kroll's double put runners on second and third with one out for Jake Magner, who then brought Sutton home with an RBI double. A wild pitch by Sullivan allowed Kroll to score, and Dan Williams followed with an RBI single to score Magner and give Edenton its final 7-2 score.

 NOTES: The Blowfish were shut out after the fourth inning for the fifth consecutive game... Columbia pitcher Brandon Miller was on the mound in the sixth, but the game was called before he could throw a pitch... Leeds picked up his team-leading 17th RBI in the third... The Blowfish wrap up their four-game homestand Tuesday night against Wilmington. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.